Pathology is the study of the cause, origin and nature of diseases, as well as their effects. A pathologist examines the tissues, organs, bodily fluids and autopsies in order to study and diagnose diseases, which eventually helps in figuring out the right treatment.
Pathology thus acts as a bridge between science and medicine. It is an all-encompassing branch of science that involves each and every aspect of patient care, from diagnostic testing and treatment advice to employing cutting-edge genetic technologies to save patients from life-threatening conditions.
The top pathologists in Dubai have an important role to play in research, advancing medicine and coming up with new treatments to fight viruses, infections and terminal diseases like cancer. The kind of progress we’ve seen in the last 100 years in the world of medicine, with respect to eliminating illnesses like polio on a global level, significant advances in blood transfusion and vaccinations is due to the never-ending service of pathologists around the world.
The field can be broadly divided into eight main areas, depending on the methodology used and the kind of diseases examined:
General pathology
Also known as anatomical and clinical pathology, this deals with a complex and generalised field. The mechanisms behind cell and tissue injury are studied, as well as how the body responds to and repairs injury. Some examples of areas of study would be necrosis, neoplasia, wound healing, inflammation and how cells adapt to injury. When these areas are studying in detail, their findings can be successfully applied in diagnosing diseases.
A pathologist working in this area is trained in the areas of laboratory analysis, such as haematology and clinical chemistry, but it’s not detailed.
Anatomical pathology
Microscopic analysis of samples of bodily fluids, tissues or organs and sometimes even the entire body is undertaken to diagnose or study illnesses. The aspects that may be examined that eventually deliver top pathology treatment in Dubai are cell appearance, anatomical make-up and chemical signatures within cells.
Anatomical pathology can be further divided into the following:
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Histology – a disease is detected or diagnosed by preparing and examining samples of bodily tissues and organs. The tissue architecture is observed to examine and the relationship between different cell and tissue types.
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Cytology – the disease is screened for and diagnosed by examining bodily fluids and tissues at the cellular level to help aid treatment decisions. In simple words, a cytologist’s job is to examine how cells look, form and function.
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Forensic pathology – a forensic pathologist conducts an autopsy of the entire body (external and internal) to determine the cause of death.
Clinical Pathology Treatment in Dubai
Clinical pathology is also called laboratory medicine and conducts the analysis of blood, urine and tissue samples. This area can provide details such as blood count, blood clotting and electrolyte results. A clinical pathologist conducting pathology treatment in Dubai is usually trained in microbiology, haematology or blood banking, but not at the same level as someone who specialises in one of these fields.
If a certain problem demands specialised expertise to facilitate pathological tests and diagnosis, the clinical psychologist will consult such a colleague.
Chemical Pathology or Biochemistry
Diving a little deeper, biochemists study and examine all aspects of a disease. A biochemist will try to find out changes in various substances that’ll eventually provide clues about disease or disease risk. This includes analysis of the blood and bodily fluids such as proteins, hormones and electrolytes.
For example, if he wants to determine the risk of heart disease, a biochemist may assess cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Additionally, he may also try to look for and measure poisons, vitamins, tumour markers, medications and recreational drugs.
Genetics
Genetics itself has three main branches:
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Cytogenetics: Deep analysis of abnormalities of chromosomes at the microscopic level.
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Biochemical genetics: Using biochemical techniques to search for specific disease markers.
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Molecular genetics: DNA technology is used to search for and analyse gene mutations.
Haematology
Haemotology studies and analyses blood-related diseases. It looks at such aspects as clotting problems, and anaemia and the like. One more core area this field undertakes is transfusion medicine – performing blood typing and cross-matching for measuring compatibility and managing large amounts of blood products.
Immunology
To determine whether or not a patient is suffering from an allergy and, if so, what they are allergic to, an immunologist will perform certain immune function tests. There are a lot of diseases that are caused because of an abnormal reaction of the immune system to healthy cells or tissues. This happens when the immune system detects foreign objects in the body, thus launching an immune attack against them. While doing so, healthy cells get caught in the cross-fire. This is rightly called an autoimmune disease. Thanks to scientific advancement, today, we have a range of immunological tests capable of detecting markers of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and lupus.
Microbiology
Microbiology deals with diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. To establish whether an infection exists, various samples of blood, bodily fluid and tissue are tested. The related field of medical microbiology also engages in identifying new species of microorganisms.
Some other areas of the field include control of infection outbreaks and researching the complications resulting from bacterial antibiotic resistance. One of the crucial roles of the microbiologist is ensuring that antimicrobial drugs are prescribed and used appropriately.