Anatomical pathology (
Commonwealth) or
Anatomic pathology (
U.S.) is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the
macroscopic,
microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and
molecular examination of
organs and
tissues. Over the last century, surgical pathology has evolved tremendously: from historical examination of whole bodies (
autopsy) to a more modernized practice, centered on the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer to guide treatment decision-making in oncology. Its modern founder was the
Italian scientist
Giovan Battista Morgagni from
Forlì.