What exactly does a doctor do who's specialty is pathology?

Diagnose abnl tissue: Prepares and reads slides of tissue removed from the body to diagnose abnormalities such as cancer. Many pathologists specialize in specific kinds of tissue abnormalities.

They do many things: Pathology is not one specialty but a collection of specialties. Anatomic pathologists help other doctors with tissue diagnoses from biopsies and surgical procedures. Forensic pathologists play a major role in ascertaining the cause and manner of death. Clinical pathologists manage the clinical laboratory and serve a consultants for other physicians, helping them to select and interpret tests.

Many tasks: We are the doctors that you probably never see but who make it possible for your personal physicians to understand what's happening with you. We read biopsies, do autopsies, run the blood bank and clinical lab, and assist with difficult problem-solving. We maintain the quality control on medical practice. It's a wonderful way of serving. Thanks for asking.

Pathology: Pathology is the study of disease - pathologists perform testing to diagnose disease. For instance, If there is a breast mass, a biopsy is done by the surgeon, but it is the pathologist who looks at it the tissue and determines whether or not it is cancer.