Head of Department
Dr. med. Klaus Dumke
Bethel
Remterweg 2
33617 Bielefeld
phone 0049 | (0)521 | 772-79021
fax 0049 | (0)521 | 772-79022
E-Mail: Klaus.Dumke@evkb.de

Our Institute for Pathology carries out examinations and post-mortems for the EvKB, for other hospitals in and around Bielefeld, and for many consultant practices. It developed an extensive quality management system in 2004 and thereupon received official certification and accreditation.

Pathology is the science of pathological alterations of the body. It is especially involved with the causes, formation and development of diseases and the visible alterations generated by diseases.

Pathologists differentiate in their examinations between biopsies and operative preparations. Biopsies serve exclusively as a diagnostic tool; they are small tissue samples, obtained during endoscopic examinations (for example: gastroscopies, colonoscopies, bronchial or bladder endoscopies), during a uterine curettage or by puncture sampling, such as of the liver, kidney, prostate or lung. Operative preparations on the other hand are gained during surgery performed for the diagnosis or therapy of diseases.

The examination of preparations deems to clarify which disease has affected the organ or organ-part. With tumours, the aim is to determine the type of tumour, whether it is a benign or a malignant growth, how far advanced it is and whether it can be completely removed. The clinician-in-charge then decides on further therapy. Some of the above questions can already clarified by so-called rapid section diagnosis, which takes place during the operation.

Included in the responsibilities of pathologists are post-mortems of the deceased. Post-mortems are carried out under instruction or with the consent of the deceased, obtained before death, or that of the relatives. It serves to clarify a basic illness or cause of death, to check on diagnosis and therapy, and to detect hereditary or infectious diseases. Work-related or occupational diseases are also identified in this way and their detection can lead to considerable financial consequences for the next-of-kin.