ABSTRACT
Pre-nineteenth century tissue diagnosis depended on naked eye examination of autopsy material and of a small selection of surgical specimens. Tissue analysis is now an integral and routine element of clinical practice. It is heavily dependent on microscopic assessment, although newer methods of tissue analysis will increasingly provide additional information. Developments and changes in cellular pathology are continuous. The location of a modern cellular pathology department is usually within or near a medium-sized or large hospital or in a purpose-built off-site centre. Molecular pathological analysis of cancer tissue increasingly contributes to management, including diagnostic categorisation, prognostic predictions and selection of drug therapy. Neoplasia is a broad term that includes benign and malignant tumours and precursors of malignancy.
