Which pathology technique involves examining a whole organ for disease?

The examination of a whole organ for disease is specifically characterized by gross pathology. This technique focuses on the visual assessments of organs, tissues, and specimens without the aid of a microscope. In gross pathology, a pathologist assesses the overall structure, size, shape, and color of the organ, identifying any notable abnormalities or lesions that may indicate disease.

Gross pathology plays a vital role in the diagnostic process, particularly in surgical specimens or autopsy cases, where the understanding of macroscopic features can guide further investigation, including histopathological examination. This approach allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the organ's overall health, which can be crucial in diagnosing various conditions.

While histopathology, microscopic pathology, and immunohistochemistry are important methods used for tissue examination, they typically involve higher levels of analysis and require the preparation of samples at a microscopic level, thus making them unsuitable for a whole organ evaluation.