histopathologic

Histopathology is the branch of pathology that studies tissue disease through microscopic examination of tissue sections. The adjective histopathologic describes findings, specimens, or techniques related to histopathology. This field integrates with clinical information to interpret why tissues appear abnormal and what that means for disease.

Specimens for histopathology are typically obtained by biopsy, surgical resection, or autopsy. Tissues are fixed, usually in formalin, processed, embedded in paraffin, and cut into thin sections for mounting on slides. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is the standard starting point, providing contrast to reveal cellular and architectural details. Additional stains and immunohistochemical methods may be employed to identify specific cell types, organisms, or molecular markers.

Diagnosis in histopathology relies on recognizing patterns of cellular morphology, tissue architecture, and the relationship between cells and surrounding stroma. The pathologist integrates microscopic features with clinical history and imaging to provide diagnoses, assess tumor grade, determine margins in surgical specimens, and gauge prognosis or treatment response.

Histopathology covers a range of disease processes, including inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, degenerative, and vascular conditions. Interpretation can be affected by artifacts and sampling limitations, making quality control, standard reporting, and multidisciplinary collaboration important. Increasingly, digital pathology and image analysis support diagnostic workflows.

Related terms include histology, the study of tissue structure, and cytopathology, which analyzes individual cells. Histopathologic findings are foundational to confirming diseases and guiding patient management.