Pathology, a para-clinical subject aids in diagnosis of disease (recently given clinical branch status).
Pathology is mainly sub-divided into Hematopathology/Clinical Pathology, Histopathology and Cytopathology.
Hematopathology deals with studies about blood diseases, routine tests like Complete Blood Picture, Complte Urinary examination apart from special tests like Bone marrow aspiration and Trephine Biopsy.
Histopathology deals with Tissue diagnosis. Either small, medium or large tissue biopsyis sent from clinical departments to Pathology for a definite diagnosis. Based on the accurate histopathologic diagnosis treatment is given by clinical departments. Ancillary techniques like Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Immunocytochemistry and Immunofluorescence are done for a specific diagnosis and targeted therapy: for example, Breast Cancer, Soft tissue Sarcoma
and medical Renal diseases and skin lesions.
Cytopathology deals with Morphologic diagnosis based on cell morphology. Fine needle aspiration cytology has revolutionised the branch in giving cytologic diagnosis.
Cytopathology branch aids in rapid diagnosis reducing the TAT to 24 hours. For certain diseases involving lymphnode, Thyroid and Soft Tissue Tumors, FNAC gives diagnosis in a single day and also helps in categorising the disease such as infectious, benign versus malignant, in close to 90% cases.