Pathology and Cytodiagnosis is a little-known specialty, but essential in the health system . The work carried out in pathology laboratories is key to diagnosing numerous pathologies, as well as determining the prognosis of diseases and designing the treatment of many patients.
Doctors need to have professionals who process biological samples, biopsies and necropsies to help them interpret or validate clinical results, so that Pathology and Cytodiagnosis technicians have become an essential profile and one of the professionals most in demand among support health workers . Therefore, pathology and cytodiagnosis job opportunities are assured.
What is Pathology and Cytodiagnosis?
Pathological anatomy is a branch of Medicine that focuses on the study of the causes, origin and nature of different diseases by observing macroscopic and microscopic levels of tissues, organs and body fluids.
Analyze the morphological changes that occur in the body to determine if it is a pathology and predict its development and consequences. Therefore, it is an essential area of ??Medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, as well as for the practice of Forensic Medicine.
The functions of a technician in Pathology and Cytodiagnosis
The Pathology and Cytodiagnostic Anatomy technician develops different daily tasks, almost always in collaboration with the pathologist. In fact, its main function is to assist the pathologist in the selection, collection and analysis of clinical samples . If you decide to take the Higher Degree in Pathology and Cytodiagnosis, you can take care of:
- Manage a unit of a pathology and cytology laboratory, being in charge of the control and replacement of the necessary materials and instruments.
- Perform the selection and diagnostic approach of cytologies, imprints and biological samples under the supervision of the pathologist.
- Apply the techniques and procedures of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, hematopathology and molecular biology under the supervision of the pathologist.
- Collaborate with the pathologist in conducting clinical or medicolegal autopsies.
- Carry out the photographic registration of parts and preparations at a macroscopic, microscopic and ultramicroscopic level for their subsequent observation and analysis.
- Manage patient files.
Senior Technician in Pathology and Cytodiagnosis: Job opportunities
Pathology and Cytodiagnosis job opportunities are concentrated in private clinics that perform this type of test and public hospitals . In them you can work as:
- Radiodiagnosis specialist technician
- Senior Technician in Pathology and Cytology
- Specialist technician in pathological anatomy and cytology
- Prosecutor of clinical and medico-legal autopsies
- Forensic Assistant
- Thanatopractor
- Collaborator and assistant in molecular biology
- Collaborator and research assistant
Salary of a Senior Technician in Pathology and Cytodiagnosis
If you study the Higher Technician in Pathology and Cytodiagnosis, the average salary is around 25,300 gross euros per year , depending on whether you work in the public or private sector. Years of experience count for a lot as the salary of the most experienced technicians can exceed 35,000 euros per year.
Where to study Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis?
At the European University you can take the Higher Technician in Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis . In this program the practices represent 50% of the schedule, so that you will be able to learn to process histological and cytological samples, select and make the diagnostic approach of gynecological and general cytologies, as well as collaborate in the performance of clinical and forensic autopsies using the techniques advanced laboratory tests.