The Department of Pathology is located on the first floor of the headquarters building. The department also includes an autopsy tract. This section is situated on the ground floor of this building. The department provides biopsy examinations and a wide range of non-gynaecological cytology examinations for the inpatient departments of NH Hospital a.s. Hospital Hořovice, Jessenia a.s. Beroun Hospital, their outpatient clinics and other medical facilities mainly from the district of Beroun and Hořovice. Bioptic examinations are performed on tissues taken during surgery, but also on samples obtained by puncture or endoscopic sampling. In indicated cases, we perform rapid examination of frozen section biopsies during surgery and the results of these examinations directly influence the scope and nature of surgical procedures. In addition, we provide necropsy examinations, i.e. autopsies of deceased patients and subsequent histological examinations, for both hospitals.
Continuity of care with services provided by other departments
The department cooperates closely with the Department of Pathology of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University and the University Hospital in Prague, where highly specialised examinations are carried out in certain cases necessary for correct diagnosis and treatment, including immunohistochemical examinations, fluorescence in situ hybridisation and PCR examinations. Gynaecological cytology examinations are carried out in cooperation with an external accredited cytology laboratory which is included in the network of laboratories authorised to carry out such examinations.
General characteristics of pathology
Definition of the field:
Pathology is a basic predominantly morphological diagnostic discipline with biopsy, cytology and autopsy components. It is also, particularly through its autopsy activity, an important tool for rationalising feedback and internal quality control of healthcare.
Subject matter:
- Morphological macroscopic, microscopic and special examination of organs, tissues and cells removed from the body of a patient for diagnostic and/or therapeutic reasons. Methods of investigation:
- Biopsy: histological and special investigation of tissues removed from the body of a patient during surgery, by diagnostic excision, curettage, puncture or other invasive approach.
- Cytology: microscopic examination of cells obtained by swabbing of surface structures or puncture of body cavities, organs and tissue resistances.
- Autopsies of deceased persons in health care establishments where death is not suspected to be due to improper medical care, exceptionally of deceased persons outside health care establishments where death by violence is not suspected. The autopsy shall include histological and special examination of organs and tissues.
- Organisation of clinicopathological seminars and conferences to evaluate autopsy and biopsy findings, to correlate clinical and pathological findings and to evaluate the outcome of treatment.
- Acting as an expert guarantor of all histopathological and cytological diagnostic procedures performed by staff of other specialties.
- Undergraduate training of students, postgraduate training of physicians and staff of other specialties who intend to perform histopathological or cytological investigations.
Aim of the course:
- Diagnostic activity consisting in
- establishing a biopsy histological or cytological diagnosis as a basic guide for further therapeutic management
- establishing a perioperative biopsy diagnosis, determining the method and extent of surgical treatment
- establishing an autopsy diagnosis
- Clinicopathological diagnostic correlation in both the biopsy and necropsy areas, which represents an internal control and feedback allowing for improved diagnostic and therapeutic care
- Provision of objective basis for demographic data in the area of specific morbidity and mortality
- Participation in all forms of training of physicians and other health professionals
- Scientific research activities
Definition of the activities of the field:
1.3.1 ICD-10 diagnostic categories: all ICD-10 diagnoses except Chapter V. Mental and Behavioural Disorders (F00-F99), which covers only necropsy activity. Only to a small extent Chapter XIX. Injuries, poisoning and certain other effects of external causes (S00-T98) and Chapter XX. External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98), which are covered by the field of Forensic Medicine. Of particular importance is the diagnosis of tumours (C00-D48), where biopsy diagnosis is fundamental for the selection of therapy and the estimation of prognosis. Cytological screening is an important activity, particularly in the prevention of cervical cancer (C53).
