Gross Techniques In Surgical

Pathology
 Introduction

The routine work associated with a surgical

pathology specimen includes gross &
.microscopic examinations
Gross examinations give an idea about
size ,shape of specimen &any gross
.abnormality like ulceration, nodularity
The dissection, gross description &selection
of sections for microscopic study is a
crucial part of pathologic examinations
 Preparations of sections for
histopathology
paraffin embedding method ( the routine -1
.& widely used procedure)
.frozen section (intra-operative) -2
cytological diagnosis (exfoliative & fine -3
.needle aspiration cytology
.digital pathology & telepathology -4
 Paraffin embedding method

:Include the following principle steps

fixation:- to preserve the tissue, -1
fixatives include formaldehyde, Zenker’s
,solution, picric acid, Bouin’s solution
The best fixative is 10% buffered formalin
 Advantages of Formalin
.cheep -1
.always available -2
.good penetration into tissue -3
.cause little shrinkage -4
.preserve RBCs & fatty tissue -5
special stains can be used on tissues -6
.fixed with it
.preserve color of the tissue -7
.good hardening -8
 Disadvantages of Formalin

if tissue preserved in formalin for long time, -1

formic acid will be formed which affect
stainability of tissue with different stains, so it
.should be changed every 3-6 months
when formalin solution is stored for long period -2
a white precipitate of para formaldehyde which
will not affect the efficiency of formalin as a
.fixative & can be removed by alcohol
.cannot preserve glycogen -3
Dehydration:- by using different -2
.concentrations of alcohol

.Clearing:- by using xyline -3

.Paraffin impregnation -4
Embedding:- to make the tissue as a -5
block of hard paraffin

Sectioning:- by using a microtome, the -6

tissue is sliced into very thin sections ranging
.from 4-6 micrometer in thickness

.Attaching sections to the slides -7

Deparaffinization:- by using xylol & -8
.alcohol until the paraffin is dissolved

Staining:- the standard staining method is -9

H & E which stain the nucleus blue (basophilic)
.& the cytoplasm pink-red (acidophilic)

.Mounting:- by using DPX &cover slip -10

 Special Techniques In Surgical Pathology

Special stains like PAS (periodic acid schiff) stain, Gram, -1

.Giemsa, Ziel-Neelson
.Enzyme histochemistry -2
.Tissue culturing -3
.Histometry -4
.X-ray microanalysis -5
.Electron microscopy -6
.Immunohistochemistry, sensitive &specific -7
.Flow cytometry -8
.Cytogenetics -9
.Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) -10