Surgical pathology and molecular diagnostics: a critical view

Surgical pathology is the most important practical and scientific tool that solves the diagnostic problems of many specialists. The rules for surgical pathology diagnostic are regulated. Implementation of traditional histopathology examinaton is a criterion of the quality of medical care. The use of modern diagnostic criteria and molecular markers has shown that histotypes of tumors can demonstrate a spectrum of morphological variations. The discovery of new information on the variations of DNA, RNA, proteins, and the epigenome characteristics of many types of tumors has led to the creation of new molecular classifications. Molecular diagnostics no longer represents a single test performed during a primary examination. Modern therapy involves monitoring the characteristics of tumor clones throughout all stages of medical care. Integration of genetics with classical morphology led to the emergence of a new discipline – molecular pathology.