The modern histopathologist: in the changing face of time
The modern histopathologist: in the changing face of time
http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/pdf/1746-1596-3-25.pdf
Diagnostic Pathology 2008, 3:25 doi:10.1186/1746-1596-3-25
Biman Saikia (bimansaikia@gmail.com)
Kirti Gupta (kirtigupta10@yahoo.co.in)
Uma N Saikia (umasaikia22@yahoo.co.in)
Abstract
The molecular age histopathologist of today is practicing pathology in a totally different
scenario than the preceding generations did. Histopathologists stand, as of now, on the
cross roads of a traditional ‘visible’ morphological science and an ‘invisible’ molecular
science. As molecular diagnosis finds more and more applicability in histopathological
diagnosis, it is time for the policy makers to reframe the process of accreditation and reaccreditation
of the modern histopathologist in context to the rapid changes taking place
in this science. Incorporation of such ‘molecular’ training viv-a-vis information
communication technology skills viz. telemedicine and telepathology, digital imaging
techniques and photography and a sound knowledge of the economy that the fresh entrant
would ultimately become a part of would go a long way to produce the Modern
Histopathologist. This review attempts to look at some of these aspects of this rapidly
advancing ‘art of science.’
Conclusion
So, are we looking at a histopathologist, who is not only a good traditional
morphologist, but also an IT savvy scientist, with drops of Leonardo Da Vinci and
Picasso in blood, who is ready to take technology head-on, without the inhibitions the
current generation of pathologists face and who would look at the histopathology market
with a much wider perspective of the current economy? The making of this Modern
Histopathologist would require a drastic change in the accreditation procedure and a
major initiative on the part of the policy makers and the teachers of Pathology. The
transition from a field of visual interpretations to a largely invisible molecular science
will take some time to firm foot but will eventually be there.
