Neuropathology studies diseases and disorders of the nervous tissue, focusing on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropathologists diagnose disease processes through biopsies and postmortem tissue examination and can also perform muscle biopsies. Vasculitis and amyloidosis are two conditions that can affect nerves. The goal of neuropathology is to understand nerve disease processes and aid in recovery or symptom relief.
Neuropathology is a branch of medicine that studies diseases and disorders of the nervous tissue. A neuropathologist is a physician with an MD (a Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) medical degree with a residency in anatomical pathology and a fellowship in neuropathology. This specialized field of study may focus on the central nervous system, or the central nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord, or the peripheral nervous system, made up of nerves outside the central nervous system.
A neuropathology doctor specializes in diagnosing disease processes through the use of biopsies of nerve tissue. A biopsy is the removal and examination of tissue to identify the cause and nature of the disease. These tissue samples can be viewed under a microscope in a laboratory or examined after their removal by a neurosurgeon in an operating room. Neuropathology can study tissue of various sizes from a small sample to the entire brain.
Biopsies are commonly performed on the living; however, there is a branch of neuropathology that examines postmortem tissue to better understand the progression of the central nervous system disease process. This form of tissue removal is done during an autopsy. Some neuropathologists also perform muscle biopsies. Muscle biopsies aid in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve problems, commonly due to conditions such as vasculitis and amyloidosis.
Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels that can cause nerve problems such as weakness or numbness. There are different types of vasculitis. Buerger’s disease, also called thromboangiitis obliterans, for example, is inflammation of the extremities. This condition can cause pain in the arms or legs. Microscopic polyangiitis, another form of vasculitis, affects the small blood vessels in the kidneys, lungs and skin and can cause nerve damage.
Amyloidosis is a set of conditions in which amyloid protein is abnormally deposited in tissues or organs. This condition can also affect the nerves. These deposits can cause an irregular heart rhythm or unusual nerve sensations in the arms, legs, or feet, depending on the location of the deposits.
Neuropathology specializes in nerve problems and nervous conditions. It is a research focused branch of medicine as its two main goals are to understand the process of nerve disease and aid in the recovery of normal nerve function or to relieve and prevent symptoms of nerve dysfunction. Common symptoms include abnormal sensations, numbness, tingling, and neuralgia or nerve pain.
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