Neuropathologist

Neuropathologists work in close relation with Neurologists. Both endeavor to fight diseases of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. While the Neurologist is the one who examines the patient and performs tests, the Neuropathologist is the person working behind the scenes to provide extensive lab test results that lead to a diagnosis and, hopefully, a cure.

Your work as a Neuropathologist takes place in a laboratory. Each morning, you start off by identifying samples that need examining. After carefully marking which patient each sample belongs to, you prepare slides for examination.

Next, you carefully examine each slide under a microscope for signs of disease or other abnormalities. Certain samples may need more testing, or you may compare your results with those from tests such as CT scans and MRIs.

You’re on the lookout for diseases such as cancerous tumors or Alzheimer’s disease. Each shows physical signs, and after the patient undergoes a biopsy, tissue samples are sent to you for examination. Looking at these samples tells you whether the patient has a disease, how advanced it is, and whether any other diseases are present. These clues are crucial to correctly diagnosing and helping the patient.

Once you’ve gathered results, you send them back to the Neurologist, who in turn informs the patient of the results and decides how to proceed. Catching a disease in its early stages raises the chances of curing it. Your work helps Doctors identify and treat diseases that were once considered untreatable.