A pathology report is a pathologist’s description of a tissue sample or body fluid after looking at it through a microscope. The pathologist also provides a diagnosis based on what they see. You might get a pathology report after a biopsy, colonoscopy or any other procedure where your provider sends fluid or tissue to a lab for testing.
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A pathology report is a pathologist’s description of what they found in a sample of body tissue or fluid. It also gives you a diagnosis or recommendations based on what the cells and tissues look like compared to what they expect normal ones to look like.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
You might receive a pathology report if you’ve had a biopsy, surgery or another procedure where your provider took tissue, blood, poop or other body fluid samples. Maybe you’re reading a copy of the results that your healthcare provider let you take home. Or maybe you’re reviewing them in your electronic medical record. It’s not unusual to feel confused by the report. What exactly do those complicated words and numbers mean? A pathology report (or lab report) tells you about:
Pathology is the study of diseases, what causes them and their effects on our bodies. Anytime you have body fluid or tissue samples taken, it goes to a pathology lab for testing. Pathologists examine it to look for disease. Pathology is used to:
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Most often, we think of pathology reports as something we get back after a biopsy to look for cancer. But you can also get pathology reports for conditions like endometriosis, colon polyps and any other condition where your provider takes a sample that a pathologist analyzes. This includes:
Things you might see on a pathology report include:
It can take a week or longer to get a pathology report back. Sometimes, they’re ready sooner. Ask your provider when to expect results, but try not to worry if they take longer than expected. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything about your results.
It can be hard to wait for important results to come back. Sometimes, it helps to find ways to occupy your mind while you wait.
Your provider will let you know what your next steps are if you have abnormal or unexpected results in a pathology report. It depends on what the pathologist found and what treatment options are.
Reading a pathology report can be a bit like reading a map of an unfamiliar city. The words on it seem foreign. You might not be sure where to start or where the road you’re on will lead. But your provider can use the map to understand your diagnosis and plan treatment options. Ask them to explain your pathology results and what they mean for you. Together, you can plan for the journey ahead.
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Last reviewed on 06/07/2024.
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