CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
Microscopy’s dangers
July 2019—We thoroughly enjoyed the article by Anne Paxton, “Microscopy’s dangers: From wear and tear to disabling injury” (April 2019). This is an underrepresented topic in the pathology world. I have been practicing for nearly 11 years; we are a group of 13 pathologists including part-time and full-time pathologists. Two female senior pathologists in our group underwent neck surgery less than a year apart owing to years of accumulated trauma. Both of these pathologists graduated together from residency and have been in the same practice since training. Both presented with almost the same signs and symptoms of numbness to the arms and other neuropathy symptoms. Both then had to undergo surgery to prevent severe, debilitating conditions. I and other pathologists in my group suffer regular neck, shoulder, and back pain. Two other retired senior pathologists also suffered backaches with degenerating discs and severe limitations on the activities they enjoy most.
Those examples that I have witnessed are due to years of wear and tear, long working hours in front of the microscope and the computer, and dealing with the stress of smaller biopsy specimens in combination with a larger testing menu. All of these factors have led us to this point in our profession.
Evan George, MD, of the University of Washington, published an article in 2010 that addressed microscopy as an occupational hazard of pathology practice (Am J Clin Pathol. 2010;133[4]:543–548), as your article noted, but he believes the knowledge gap remains sizable. We fully agree with his statement: “It’s a subject that pathologists don’t talk about a lot.”
We as pathologists should come forward and take these issues seriously to prevent further injury, because preventing early injuries is far easier and less expensive than repairing them. Stretching (and knowledge about stretching) and a work hours cap at the microscope will cost our profession much less in the long run than will the need to undergo invasive surgeries.