9 May 2019 Anatomical pathology and its specialists (anatomical pathologists) are responsible for analysing human material taken from a patient. This material may be in the form of: A part resulting from a major surgical procedure, e.g. a stomach (after a gastrectomy) A small fragment of an organ A biopsy taken by a gastroenterologist during an endoscopy Cells obtained by fine-needle aspiration of a nodule - so-called aspiration cytology The entire body in a post-mortem. These procedures all involve the collection of human cells or tissue that will be examined under a microscope in order to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. This diagnosis is essential if no definitive conclusion can be drawn from clinical symptoms or x-rays. This article was written with the support of physicians and other clinical professionals from the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
