neuropathology - Methodology, Focus of Specialization, History of neuropathology, Progress

The study of the disease processes which affect the nervous system. These include haemorrhage in various parts of the brain; infections and tumours of the brain and its enveloping membranes; degenerative disorders such as prion disease, Parkinsonism and dementia; metabolic disorders; neuropathies; and demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole autopsy brains.

Methodology

The work of the neuropathologist consists largely of examining biopsy tissue from the brain and spinal cord to aid in diagnosis of disease.

Focus of Specialization

In many English speaking countries neuropathology is considered a subfield of anatomical pathology. In contrast, there are a number of independent university chairs in neuropathology and even institutes of neuropathology in German speaking countries due to a different historical background. A physician who specializes in neuropathology, usually by completing a fellowship after a residency in anatomical or general pathology, is called a neuropathologist.

Neuropathology in the US System

Neuropathologists are physicians with either MD or DO medical school degrees. They must finish either 2 or 3 years of an anatomical pathology residency followed by 2 years of a neuropathology fellowship and be certified by the American Board of Pathologyin both anatomical and neuropathology.

In addition to examining central nervous system tissue, the neuropathologist usually is assigned the task of examining muscle and peripheral nerve biopsies.

Neuropathology is a heavily research oriented field.

History of neuropathology

One famous founder of neuropathology was Alois Alzheimer, the person after whom Alzheimer's disease is named.

Progress

A European Board Examination in Neuropathology which emphasizes the importance of proper training in the neurosciences is currently being established (www.euro-cns.org).