Tissue is the issue

For non medicos Pathology is the study of cells microscopically in diseases states and histology is the same study in normal states !
Histology is microscopic anatomy of the human body at cellular level and is studied as a basic science in medical curriculum ie during the first or second year while pathology is generally done in third or fourth year after starting medicine surgery and gynecology and knowing about diseased states .
Forensic science is the study of dead tissues and post mortem examinations also are a part of pathology but of a more investigative approach associated with criminology and post mortem examination to find cause of death etc a totally different and vast field by itself as a medical student one went through that in fourth year ,

To us working in oncology or cancer medicine ,pathology is vital and pathologists are one of the most important specialists we work with as a team .
In these days of great advances in the molecular level of differentiation's pathology at many times decides on the treatment and the word of the pathologist is sacrosanct .

Getting a pathology or biopsy report for a patient too is very unnerving as it could be a diagnosis which would strike terror into his or her heart or rarely relieve him of his anxiety !

in oncology we always say tissue is the issue

we have in most centers multidisciplinary meets with pathologists to discuss cases as subtle difference can alter the whole management
in these days of highly specialized stains in immuno histochemistry and molecular tests and even genetic mutations the differentiation is so vast .
in the early days it was suffice to get a diagnosis of say in breast cancer what type of tissue it was either from glandular called adenocarcinoma or from connective tissue a type of sarcoma called malignant phylloides whose treatment were diametrically opposite today the sub classifications like the hormone status the aggressiveness by grade or by KI 67 range or specialized targets amenable to treatment like Her 2 or epidermal receptors ,the microscopical invasions into blood vessles lymph nodes or lymphatics or nerves are all vital

in hematology too the sub classifications of lymphomas or leukemia's deserve separate tomes and are in hundreds and each one is important for prognosis or outcomes ,
second opinions are taken at times when pathologists themselves are foxed over certain modulations in tissue

Transformation of the tissue from one type to another as tumor grows certain mutations that confer resistance to certain types of targeted treatment or monoclonal antibodies have all made pathology a highly specialized and meticulous science in oncology .
over the years i still remember some eminent pathologists i had the opportunity to work with

a reputed madam professor in lakeshore hospital in kochi who was very helpful when requested for an early report for those whom we wanted to waste no time to start treatment like in young patients
i still rememebr getting a bone marrow report on same day something which would never happen abroad !!

in Tawam hospital in Al Ain a John Hopkins hospital managed tertiary care center the pathology hematology had a great team there was an Italian hematologist who only specialized in lymphomas and he was an authority on that

in the center i work here now too we have a highly specialized and capable department of pathologists who are the main support structure in the diagnosis of our patient s

with newer forms of tissue sampling like circulating tumor cells and plasma based DNA detection the paucity of sampling from difficult areas like lung will be met better in future

so the kaleidoscopic world of starry cellular wonderland the home of pathologists is dear to us too .

After all tissue is the issue