ABSTRACT

A certain level of tension characterises the relationship between clinician and pathologist. The source of this tension can be traced to the split of laboratory and clinical medicine that occurred in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The principal residue of the once formidable discipline of pathology is now preserved in the area of diagnostic service. This involves the clinician requesting a laboratory investigation and the pathologist carrying it out. Communication between the surgeon and the pathologist can be assisted by the actual attendance of the pathologist within the operating theatre. This sometimes occurs but is not feasible as a routine practice because of the relatively smaller number of pathologists in comparison with that of surgeons. The two major steps in the pathological management of cancer are reflected in two types of clinicopathological meeting. The first meeting will address the diagnosis of cancer and the second will discuss the major surgical procedure including the expected outcome for the patient.