How long does a pathology report take?

According to the National Cancer Institute, the pathologist usually sends a pathology report to the doctor within 10 days of the biopsy or surgery.

The timing depends on how the tissue is prepared. The most common approach uses fixed sections, also called permanent sections. The tissue is stabilized with a chemical, set in paraffin wax, sliced very thin, placed on slides, and stained. Preparing fixed sections normally takes several days. They give the most detail.

Frozen sectioning is a faster approach. It is used when an answer is needed at once. One example is during surgery, when the surgeon needs a rapid diagnosis while the patient is still in the operating room. A frozen section can be prepared and read in about 15 to 20 minutes. Even so, fixed sections preserve more detail, and they are used more often to make a diagnosis.

One thing to keep in mind. Report results often appear in the patient portal at the same time the doctor receives them. So you may see the report before your doctor has reviewed it. The doctor in charge of your treatment will explain the findings and what they mean.