botpathologie

Botpathologie (bone pathology) is the branch of pathology that studies diseases of bone and, in some settings, the bone marrow. It integrates clinical data, imaging findings, and laboratory results to diagnose a wide range of conditions that affect the skeleton. The scope includes congenital and developmental disorders, metabolic bone diseases, inflammatory and infectious processes, degenerative changes, and neoplastic conditions, as well as bone involvement by systemic diseases.

Common areas of concern in bone pathology include osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures, osteomalacia and rickets, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Paget disease of bone. Infections such as osteomyelitis are assessed histologically and with culture. Neoplastic and tumor-like conditions include primary bone tumors such as osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, fibrous dysplasia, and benign lesions like osteoid osteoma. Metastatic tumors to bone and tumor-like lesions such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis are also evaluated.

Diagnostic workup typically combines radiology, laboratory studies, and tissue pathology. Imaging modalities include X-ray, CT, MRI, bone scintigraphy, and PET-CT to localize a lesion and guide biopsy. A bone biopsy or resection specimen is examined histologically, often after decalcification. Pathologists assess cellular morphology, matrix production, grading and staging of tumors, and may use immunohistochemistry, molecular testing, and cytogenetics to refine diagnosis. Frozen section is occasionally employed intraoperatively.

The findings influence treatment decisions, prognosis, and surveillance, particularly in oncology and metabolic bone disease. Bone pathology is practiced by surgical pathologists with subspecialty training and often in close collaboration with orthopedists, radiologists, and medical oncologists.