[Present-day pathological anatomy and prospects for its development in the 21st century]

Scientific Societies of Pathologists from Socialist countries held three symposia to analyse recent developments and future trends in pathology. The author presents his state-of-the-art review at the third symposium (Berlin, 1987) based on international literature data and first-hand experience gained in the field of pathology for the last decades. Some negative tendencies are considered. It is stated, in particular, that the percentage of autopsies performed in those who died at hospitals and at home continues to decrease due to fading interest to autopsy results both from physicians and medical authorities. This can entail growing number of misdiagnoses, unassessed quality of medical aid in complicated cases, biased statistics, undetected infection during life, defects in medical training. Tendencies and tasks facing histopathology and cytological diagnosis are determined as follows: 1) purpose-specific introduction of new techniques and equipment 2) active promotion of interdisciplinary task-force groups of clinicians, pathologists, roentgenologists, etc. to verify diagnosis and develop new techniques 3) establishment of special reference centres 4) overall computerization 5) urgent need in additional skilled staff to satisfy growing technical requirements of molecular biology, genetics and tissue culture. Current research on pathology is believed unsatisfactory. The role of experimental pathology is underestimated. To improve the situation in fundamental pathological research, the author suggests large-scale perestroika involving additional investments and human resources, active participation of scientists, clinical pathologists and medical authorities.