Tag Susan Lester

Genitourinary Specimens

Genitourinary pathology includes specimens from the kidney, ureters, bladder, prostate, testis, and penis (see separate chapter for the latter). The kidney may undergo biopsy as part of the evaluation of renal function, the testes may be biopsied for interfertility issues,…

Gastrointestinal Specimens

Specimens from the gastrointestinal tract are common. Endoscopic biopsies are often performed to evaluate patients with symptoms (bleeding, diarrhea, malabsorption, symptoms of infection), as well as to evaluate mass lesions (polyps and tumors). Resections are commonly performed for tumors but…

Dermatopathology

. . Of all organ systems, the skin has the greatest number of pathological lesions, perhaps in part because the skin is subject to a wide variety of environmental exposures, no special procedures are necessary to visualize its surface (therefore…

Cytology Specimens

Cytologic specimens are obtained from patients by minimally invasive methods: Brushings and scrapes (e.g., bronchial brushing, gastrointestinal [GI] brushing, Papanicolaou [Pap] test) Washings (e.g., bronchial washing, bronchoalveolar lavage, peritoneal washing) Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of mass lesions Body cavity effusions…

Cardiovascular Specimens

For structural issues in cardiac pathology, the gross findings are often more critical than microscopic features to render a specific etiologic diagnosis for some cardiac tissues (e.g., valves and hearts). However, for changes in the myocardium, histologic analysis of endomyocardial…

Breast

Breast procedures generate many specimens for the evaluation of palpable masses, radiologic lesions, or nipple discharge, as well as for the treatment of malignancy. Clinically significant nonmalignant diseases of the breast are rare – the most common being nonlactational chronic…

Bone and Joints

Bones are common surgical specimens that may be submitted after reconstructive or joint replacement surgery, as part of a larger soft tissue resection, to diagnose metabolic bone disease, or after resection of tumors primary to bone. Relevant Clinical History In…