Areas of Care

Anatomical Pathology

Overview

The Anatomical Pathology Division at The Ottawa Hospital examines tissue and cell samples to help diagnose disease and determine causes of death. 

This includes specimens removed during surgery or biopsy, as well as autopsy examinations. 

A laboratory professional wearing a white lab coat and blue gloves looks into a microscope at a workstation in a clinical or research lab.

Services

Surgical Pathology

Examining tissue samples such as breast or prostate biopsies.

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Cytopathology

Analyzing cell samples, including Pap smears.

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Autopsy Pathology

Determining the cause of death through post-mortem examination.

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Pathologists use a variety of techniques to study these samples and issue detailed diagnostic reports. These reports often include important information beyond the diagnosis, especially in cancer cases, where tumour characteristics help guide treatment decisions. 

Team

Anatomical Pathology is staffed by medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing disease through tissue and cell analysis. They are supported by trained laboratory technologists, pathologists’ assistants and medical transcriptionists who prepare specimens and transcribe final reports for the patient’s physician. 

Pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing disease by examining cells, tissues and body fluids. They use a range of diagnostic tools, including microscopic analysis and specialized tests, to identify changes caused by disease. During surgery, pathologists may be consulted to examine tissue samples and help guide immediate treatment decisions. Their work supports accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. 

Pathologists’ assistants (PAs) have been part of The Ottawa Hospital for nearly 35 years. They perform the gross examination of over 90 percent of the hospital’s surgical pathology cases and assist with medical autopsies. PAs also support forensic autopsies, working closely with forensic pathologists at the Eastern Ontario Regional Forensic Pathology Unit.

Their responsibilities include gross photography, maintaining image archives, training medical residents and paramedical staff, updating procedures and contributing to quality improvement initiatives. 

Cytotechnologists assist with fine needle aspiration biopsies by examining samples immediately under a microscope to ensure adequacy. They play a key role in diagnosing disease at the cellular level. 

Histotechnologists are medical laboratory technologists who prepare tissue samples for microscopic examination. They fix, embed and slice tissue, then apply stains to highlight cellular structures. Their work includes freezing tissue during surgery, performing immunohistochemical and fluorescent tests, processing samples for electron microscopy and handling specialized specimens such as kidney and lymph node biopsies. 

Along with PAs, morgue attendants assist with autopsies by preparing and sampling tissue for examination. They work in the Cutting Room, where surgical and autopsy specimens are described and placed into cassettes for processing. Their work involves a wide range of specimens and supports both medical and forensic investigations.

Office staff and technicians manage specimen intake and data entry. They ensure that requisitions are processed and samples are sent to the appropriate departments. Cytology specimens are prepared by technicians and cytotechnologists. Pathologists then examine the samples and dictate findings, which are transcribed and sent to the referring physician.