Hematopathologists

Hematopathology is a medical subspecialty of pathology that focuses on diseases of the blood and hematopoietic tissues, including bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and other lymphoreticular organs. Hematopathologists interpret the morphologic features of blood and tissue samples and employ ancillary techniques to diagnose a range of hematologic disorders, such as leukemias, lymphomas, myelodysplastic syndromes, multiple myeloma, and other marrow or lymphoid conditions. They work closely with clinical hematologists and oncologists to classify diseases according to current classifications and to provide prognostic information and guidance for therapy.

Training and certification typically begin with medical school and a residency in general or combined anatomic and clinical pathology, followed by a fellowship in hematopathology. Certification is generally awarded by a national board in pathology with recognition of the hematopathology subspecialty.

Common methods used by hematopathologists include light microscopy of bone marrow biopsies and lymph node sections, cytology of peripheral blood and marrow, flow cytometry for immunophenotyping, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular diagnostics such as PCR and next-generation sequencing. They may also participate in monitoring minimal residual disease and in evaluating tissues for stem cell transplantation or relapse.

Practice settings include academic medical centers, large teaching hospitals, cancer centers, and specialized laboratories. Hematopathologists collaborate with hematologists, transfusion medicine specialists, and researchers to ensure accurate diagnosis, proper disease classification, staging, and guidance for treatment, and to contribute to ongoing research.