What are histopathological examinations?

Histopathological examinations consist of microscopic evaluation of the collected tissues, which allows for the diagnosis of diseases, including cancer. They are carried out by a pathologist who, based on the appearance of cells, assesses their structure and the severity of the disease. These tests are an indispensable part of diagnostics, especially in the case of suspected cancer, as well as other diseases, such as liver, kidney or gastrointestinal diseases.

Why are histopathological examinations performed?

Histopathological examination is a key diagnostic tool that allows for an accurate assessment of the nature of the lesion. With this test, doctors can:

• identify malignant and benign tumors,
• determine the degree of malignancy of the tumor,
• choose the appropriate treatment method, e.g. hormonal treatment, targeted therapy,
• assess the stage of non-cancerous diseases.

Histopathological examination

Material for histopathological examination is collected during a biopsy or surgery. Then it is properly prepared and fixed, most often with a formalin solution. In the pathology laboratory, the fabric is processed into microscopic preparations, which are evaluated under a microscope. This process involves dehydrating the tissue, embedding it in paraffin, and cutting it into thin slices, which are then stained with special reagents.

Types of biopsies

Depending on the diagnostic need, there are several types of biopsies that allow the collection of material for histopathological examination:

1. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (BAC): Mainly used in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, and breast and salivary gland tumors. It involves inserting a thin needle that takes a sample of cells for testing. This is a quick method, but it may not provide complete information about the structure of the tissue.
2. Core needle biopsy: This method allows for the collection of a larger section of tissue, which allows for a more accurate assessment of the cell structure. It is used, m.in, in the diagnosis of breast lesions, liver tumors and soft tissue sarcomas.
3. Excisional biopsy: This involves the complete removal of a lesion, e.g. a skin tumor, melanoma. It is used in cases where it is necessary to fully excise the lesion to make a diagnosis.
4. Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Used in the diagnosis of cancer, e.g. breast or vulvar cancer. This test involves taking the first lymph node into which lymph flows from the tumor. The presence of cancer cells in the sentinel lymph node suggests that the disease may have spread.
5. Brush biopsy: Allows cells to be taken for examination from organs that are difficult to biopsy with a needle. It is used, for example, in the diagnosis of cervical, bronchial or bile duct cancer.

What happens after downloading the material?

After collecting the tissue, doctors proceed to microscopic analysis, during which they look for abnormalities in the structure of cells. These results help doctors determine the nature of the lesion and the severity of the disease.

Histopathological Results

The result of the histopathological examination is usually ready after 7-14 days from the collection of the material, although in the case of more complicated cases this time may be longer. The report includes information about the type of disease, the degree of malignancy, and what treatment will be most effective.

What are the most common histopathological examinations?

• Examination of skin lesions – pigmented nevi, lipomas, fibromas, warts, melanomas.
• Examination of internal organs – biopsies of breast, thyroid, liver, kidneys.
• Tests in cancer diagnostics – particularly important in the assessment of the degree of malignancy of tumors and the assessment of metastases.