Pathology
Pathology is the scientific study of disease processes that affect normal anatomy and physiology. Anatomical and physiological changes are pathological changes when they result from an underlying disease process or abnormality. Forensic science is geared towards deducing the nature of the physical and chemical insults that have been inflicted on one or more persons. Sometimes these insults can cause changes in the body. When that occurs, the forensic examination overlaps with pathology. Forensic pathology is the study of the anatomical or physiological changes that are suspicious in their origin.
Pathologists play an increasingly important role in diagnosis, research, and in the development of clinical treatments for disease. A specialized branch of pathology, forensic pathology, offers a vast array of molecular diagnostic techniques (including DNA fingerprint analysis) toward identification of remains, gathering of evidence, and identification of suspects.
Modern pathology labs rely heavily on molecular biology techniques and advances in biotechnology. During the last two decades, there have been tremendous advances in linking changes in cellular or tissue morphology (i.e., gross appearance) with genetic and/or intracellular changes. In many cases, specific molecular tests can definitively identify disease processes and help make a correct diagnosis at an earlier stage in the disease process.
Pathologists attempt to relate observable changes to disease process. Whether the changes are evident morphologically (structurally) or are distinguishable only via sophisticated molecular tests, the goal is to determine the existence and/or etiology of disease (the cause of disease). Once the etiologic agents are identified, the general goal of research is to document and gather evidence of the pathogenesis of disease (i.e., the mechanisms by which etiologic agents cause disease).
On a daily basis, pathologists perform a broad spectrum of tests on clinical samples to determine anatomical and physiological changes associated with a number of disease processes, including the detection of cancerous cells and tumors.
Major branches of pathology include the study of anatomic, cellular, and molecular pathology. Specific clinical studies often focus on transplantation pathology, neuropathology, immunopathology, virology, parasitology, and a number of clinical subspecialties (e.g., pediatric pathology).
Forensic pathology has several specific aims in addition to the aforementioned. The pathological examinations seek to establish what weapon was used, if that is relevant. Also, whether a death was self-inflicted or was a murder is another goal. Finally, the contribution to the death of a pre-existing disease or condition is a goal. For example, a person who is infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus often has a compromised immune system that lays them open to the development of other maladies that might otherwise not be fatal (i.e., fungal infections).
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