Excision and Large Tissue Resections

Pathologists are also responsible for the evaluation of larger resection specimens from surgical procedures such as colon resections, breast cancer excisions (mastectomy, lumpectomy), lymph node dissections, other internal organ mass excisions, soft tissue lesion removals, extremity amputations, etc. These specimens can be time consuming and often require detailed evaluation of the tissue margins (in order to determine if a tumor has been totally removed), how extensive the tumor involves a particular organ, analysis of risk factors for progression of the disease such as tumor invading vessels and of course an accurate diagnosis of the disease involving the resection specimen. Surgeons and oncologists rely on several key items in the pathology report on these large resection specimens in order to tailor their treatment regimen.