Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole autopsy brains. A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Neuropathology is a subspecialty of anatomic pathology. Pathology; please do not remove --> (
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Methodology
The work of the neuropathologist consists largely of examining biopsy tissue from the brain and spinal cord to aid in diagnosis of disease. A biopsy (in Greek: βίος life and όψη look/appearance is a Medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain Diagnosis is the identification by Process of elimination, of the nature of anything The biopsy is usually requested after a mass is detected by radiologic imaging. As for autopsies, the principal work of the neuropathologist is to help in the post-mortem diagnosis of various forms of dementia and other conditions that affect the central nervous system.
Focus of Specialization
In many English speaking countries neuropathology is considered a subfield of anatomical pathology. Pathology; please do not remove --> ( In contrast, there are a number of independent university chairs in neuropathology and even institutes of neuropathology in German speaking countries due to a different historical background. A physician who specializes in neuropathology, usually by completing a fellowship after a residency in anatomical or general pathology, is called a neuropathologist. In day-to-day clinical practice, a neuropathologist is a consultant for other physicians. If a disease of the nervous system is suspected, and the diagnosis cannot be made by less invasive methods, a biopsy of nervous tissue is taken and sent to the neuropathologist, who examines it using a microscope or certain molecular methods to make a definitive diagnosis. A biopsy (in Greek: βίος life and όψη look/appearance is a Medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues Nervous tissue is the fourth major class of Vertebrate tissue.
Many neuropathologists in Europe have a background in the clinical neurosciences (neurology, psychiatry) as well as pathology.
Neuropathology in the US System
Neuropathologists are physicians with either MD or DO medical school degrees. They must finish either 2 or 3 years of an anatomical pathology residency followed by 2 years of a neuropathology fellowship and be certified by the American Board of Pathologyin both anatomical and neuropathology. It is also quite common for neuropathologists to have PhDs in a related field.
Neuropathology in the UK System
Neuropathologists are medically qualified practitioners who are registered with the General Medical Council in the UK. The General Medical Council (the GMC) is the regulator of the medical profession in the United Kingdom. A postgraduate qualification in neuropathology is obtained through training and an examination overseen by the Royal College of Pathologists UK. The Royal College of Pathologists, was founded in 1962 and is a medical organisation that promotes and sets standards for the study and practice of Pathology. A neuropathologist has training in anatomic pathology followed by training in relation to diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system and muscle. A specialist examination (called Part2) in neuropathology is run by the Royal College of Pathologists UK. The Royal College of Pathologists, was founded in 1962 and is a medical organisation that promotes and sets standards for the study and practice of Pathology. It is also quite common for neuropathologists to have PhDs in a related field.
In addition to examining central nervous system tissue, the neuropathologist usually is assigned the task of examining muscle and peripheral nerve biopsies. Muscle biopsies are taken to aid in the diagnosis of muscle diseases (such as polymyositis, mitochondrial myopathy, etc. ). Peripheral nerve is assessed to help work up patients with suspected peripheral neuropathies secondary to such conditions as vasculitis and amyloidosis.
Neuropathology is a heavily research oriented field.
Prominent Neuropathologists
Santiago Ramon y Cajal, considered one of the founders of modern neuroanatomy and
Alois Alzheimer, the person after whom Alzheimer's disease is named, are both considered important early contributors to the field. Santiago Ramón y Cajal ( May 1 1852 &ndash October 17 1934) was a Spanish histologist, Physician, and Aloysius "Alois" Alzheimer (14 June 1864 - 19 December 1915 was a German Psychiatrist and Neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin Alzheimer's disease ( AD) also called Alzheimer disease or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of Dementia. Among prominent currently practicing neuropathologists are Mark Cohen, MD at Case Western Reserve University, Richard Prayson, MD at the Cleveland Clinic, and John E. Donahue, M. D. at Brown University who also trained as a neurologist. Neuropathologists who are also neurologists used to be the norm, but now they are becoming as rare as dinosaurs. Another prominent neuropathologist is Douglas C. Miller, M. D. He was at NYU for many years and is currently practicing in Columbia, MO.
Stephen J. Nelson, M. D. , of Florida, was the neuropathologist who examined Terri Schiavo at autopsy when she died in Pinellas County, Florida. Dr. Nelson also examined Anna Nicole Smith when she died in Broward County, Florida. Dr. Nelson holds the unusual combination of certification in anatomic pathology, forensic pathology, and neuropathology, all by The American Board of Pathology.
Progress
A European Board Examination in Neuropathology which emphasizes the importance of proper training in the neurosciences is currently being established (www. euro-cns. org). The most recent international meeting of neuropathologists occurred in September 2006 in San Francisco, California, USA.
Neuropathology Journals
Academic neuropathology is served by several specialist neuropathology journals. Several are sponsored by national or international neuropathology associations. Neuropathology & Applied Neurobiology is sponsored by the British Neuropathological Society. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology is an internationally known journal in the field of Neuropathology. The British Neuropathological Society is a professional organisation dedicated to the science of Neuropathology.
The Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology is the official journal of the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP).
External links
- [1] American Association of Neuropathologists
- [2] British Neuropathological Society
- [3] EuroCNS European Conferderation of Neuropathological Societies
- [4] International Society of Neuropathology
- [5] Blog by neuropathologist Brian E. Moore, MD
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