In the healthcare system, pathology departments are the core support for disease diagnosis and patient care. Different diagnostic needs and technical characteristics have led hospitals to establish multiple specialized pathology divisions. Understanding these distinctions helps both medical staff and patients make better use of pathology resources.
1. Basic Types of Pathology Departments
1.1 Anatomic Pathology Department
Core Functions:
Tissue biopsy diagnosis (e.g., distinguishing benign from malignant tumors)
Surgical specimen examination
Autopsies to determine cause of death
Key Technologies:
Frozen Section (rapid intraoperative diagnosis)
Immunohistochemistry (protein marker analysis)
Electron Microscopy (ultrastructural observation)
Typical Scenario:
A patient undergoing a gastroscopy discovers a mass. The biopsy specimen is sent to the anatomic pathology department to determine if it is gastric cancer.
1.2 Clinical Pathology Department (Laboratory Medicine)
Core Functions:
Routine blood and body fluid tests
Biochemical indicator analysis
Microbial culture and identification
Key Platforms:
Automated Biochemical Analyzers (e.g., liver/kidney function tests)
Flow Cytometry (leukemia typing)
Mass Spectrometry (drug concentration monitoring)
Data Value:
A single complete blood count (CBC) report can simultaneously indicate infection, anemia, and coagulation abnormalities across multiple systems.
2. Specialized Pathology Departments
2.1 Molecular Pathology Department
Cutting-Edge Applications:
Gene testing for targeted cancer therapy (e.g., EGFR mutations)
Genetic disease screening (e.g., thalassemia)
Pathogen nucleic acid detection (e.g., HPV genotyping)
Technological Benchmarks:
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Digital PCR (ultra-low abundance mutation detection)
FISH Technology (chromosomal abnormality visualization)
Clinical Impact:
A late-stage lung cancer patient may match with a targeted therapy through genetic testing, significantly improving survival.
2.2 Transfusion Pathology Department
Core Mission:
Blood type identification and cross-matching
Rare blood type bank management
Investigation of adverse transfusion reactions
Quality Control Highlights:
Antibody Screening (prevents hemolytic reactions)
Platelet Matching (reduces transfusion inefficacy)
Lifesaving Role:
For example, a hemorrhaging mother can be saved through pre-matched blood reserves.
3. Other Specialized Departments (in Select Hospitals)
| Department | Core Function | Key Technology |
| Dermatopathology | Skin tumor diagnosis | Confocal microscopy |
| Neuropathology | Brain tumor classification | Special staining techniques |
| Obstetric & Gynecologic Pathology | Placental pathology analysis | Chorionic villus testing |
4. How to Choose the Right Pathology Service
Initial Screening: Clinical Pathology Department (blood, urine, routine tests)
Cancer Diagnosis: Anatomic + Molecular Pathology Departments
Medication Guidance: Pharmacogenomic testing
Transfusion Needs: Transfusion Pathology Department
5. Future Trends in Pathology Departments
AI-Assisted Diagnosis: AI identifying cancer cells or abnormal tissues
Liquid Biopsy Adoption: Blood tests replacing traditional tissue biopsies
Multidisciplinary Integration: Pathology combined with imaging and clinical big data
Conclusion
Modern hospital pathology departments have evolved into highly specialized divisions, acting as the “reconnaissance system” of healthcare. The next time you receive a pathology report, take note of the department stamp—it represents the collective expertise of various pathology specialists.