Patologias

Patologías, or pathology, is the branch of medicine that studies diseases: their causes (etiology), development (pathogenesis), structural and functional changes in tissues and organs (morphology), and the clinical significance of these abnormalities. The term derives from Greek pathos, meaning suffering, and logos, meaning study. In medical use, pathology can refer to both the diseases themselves and the science that investigates them.

The field includes several subdisciplines. Anatomical pathology, also called histopathology, examines tissue changes observed in biopsies and autopsies. Clinical pathology, or laboratory medicine, analyzes samples such as blood, urine, and microbiologic cultures to aid diagnosis and monitoring. Molecular pathology integrates genetic and molecular data to understand disease mechanisms and guide targeted therapies. Other areas include surgical pathology (diagnosis from surgical specimens), cytopathology (cell-level analysis), forensic pathology (cause of death), and veterinary pathology.

Pathologies arise from diverse etiologies, including infectious agents, genetic mutations, autoimmune processes, environmental exposures, nutritional deficiencies, degenerative changes, and iatrogenic factors related to treatment. Pathogenesis describes the sequence by which an initial insult leads to tissue injury and clinical disease, while morphology refers to the observable structural changes in cells and tissues.

Diagnostic methods combine gross examination, microscopic analysis, and ancillary techniques such as imaging, immunohistochemistry, molecular testing, and genetic analysis. Pathology provides essential diagnoses, informs prognosis, and guides treatment decisions, serving as a cornerstone of clinical practice and biomedical research.

Historically, pathology evolved from early autopsy-based studies to a modern, integrated discipline. Pioneers such as Giovanni Morgagni and Rudolf Virchow shaped its development. Today, pathology continues to advance through digital pathology, precision medicine, and interdisciplinary collaboration.