Histopathologic Examination
Histopathologic Examination - Related Videos
07:44
Ophthalmoscopic Examination
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2023
Source: Richard Glickman-Simon, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, MA The simplest ophthalmoscopes consist of an aperture to look through, a diopter indicator, and a disc for selecting lenses. The ophthalmoscope is primarily used to examine the fundus, or the inner wall of the posterior eye, which consists of the choroid, retina, fovea, macula, optic disc, and retinal vessels (Figure 1). The spherical eyeball...
35:03
Mental Status Examination
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2023
Source: Carmen Black, Matthew Goldenberg, and Jaideep Talwalkar; Yale School of Medicine The mental status exam is a clinical evaluation of emotional, perceptual, and cognitive functioning that spans both the fields of psychiatry and neurology. Developing skill in the psychiatric portions of the examination are important to describe salient aspects of the patient's mental state that may be observed during routine history and/or physical exam. Proficiency in the cognitive portions of this...
20:06
The Comprehensive Infant Examination
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2023
Source: Heather Collette and Jaideep Talwalkar; Yale School of Medicine The newborn exam is important in establishing a baby's baseline health status as they enter the world. Newborn providers have the unique opportunity to evaluate a patient for the very first time. They are also tasked with identifying congenital anomalies that require early intervention to promote a long and healthy life for the child. Many newborn anomalies, such as heart defects, are noted on prenatal ultrasound. However,...
14:21
Optical Frequency Domain Imaging of Ex vivo Pulmonary Resection Specimens: Obtaining One to One Image to Histopathology Correlation
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Cited by 21 •
2013
A method to image ex vivo pulmonary resection specimens with optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and obtain precise correlation to histology is described, which is essential to developing specific OFDI interpretation criteria for pulmonary pathology. This method is applicable to other tissue types and imaging techniques to obtain precise imaging to histology correlation for accurate image interpretation and assessment. Imaging criteria established with this technique would then be...
12:21
Wrist and Hand Examination
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2015
Source: Robert E. Sallis, MD. Kaiser Permanente, Fontana, California, USA The wrist is a complex joint made up of 8 carpal bones and their numerous articulations and ligaments. Overlying the wrist are the tendons and muscles of the hand and fingers. The hand is made up of 5 metacarpal bones, and the tendons that run to the hand overlie these bones. Finally, the fingers consist of 14 phalanges with their articulations held together by collateral ligaments and volar plates. Common mechanisms of...
FAQs
Fixation preserves cellular architecture before the specimen undergoes processing and embedding. This step helps maintain the spatial relationships among cells and extracellular features, allowing later sections to reflect the tissue’s structural condition more reliably. Without preserved architecture, changes caused by handling or degradation could complicate interpretation of injury, inflammation, infection, or neoplastic growth.
After fixation, tissue processing and embedding create a stable specimen that can be cut into thin sections. Thin sections are essential because they permit light to pass through the tissue and allow cellular and extracellular structures to be examined. The resulting preparation supports consistent visualization of architectural patterns that may be important for diagnosis and tumor assessment.
Stains enhance cellular and extracellular features that may be difficult to distinguish in an unstained section. By increasing visual contrast, they help pathologists recognize structural patterns associated with inflammation, tissue injury, infection, and neoplastic growth. The enhanced features contribute to morphological assessment, which is then interpreted alongside clinical and laboratory findings rather than in isolation.
Morphological assessment reveals patterns of neoplastic growth and other structural changes within a tissue specimen. Pathologists use these observed features to support tumor classification and grading, providing information that can contribute to treatment planning. Interpretation is strengthened when the microscopic findings are correlated with the patient’s clinical presentation and laboratory results.
A typical workflow begins with fixation, followed by tissue processing and embedding. The embedded specimen is then cut into thin sections, and stains are applied to emphasize relevant cellular or extracellular features. Finally, the sections are examined by light microscopy. Each stage prepares the specimen for clearer structural assessment and supports the pathologist’s diagnostic interpretation.
Clinical teams use the findings to investigate structural changes associated with disease and to support medical diagnosis. The examination can also inform tumor classification, grading, and treatment planning. Because interpretation incorporates morphology with clinical and laboratory information, it provides a tissue-based perspective that complements other evidence used in evaluating a patient’s condition.
In research, tissue morphology provides evidence for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating findings in clinical studies. In patient care, the same type of structural information can support treatment planning and advances in personalized medicine. Its value comes from linking observed tissue patterns with clinical and laboratory findings, helping connect disease biology with medical decision-making.