Rapid, Simple Paraffin Processing of Small Biopsies

Abstract

Small biopsies of human tissues were rapidly processed through paraffin, utilizing fixation in 10% neutral buffered formalin, alcoholic formalin or Perfix, and dehydration in 2,2-dimethoxypropane. Rapidly processed slide. sections of liver, kidney, lung, striated muscle, spleen, skin, thyroid and breast carcinoma compared favorably with similar routinely processed tissue counterparts in regard to morphologic detail, cytologic clarity and staining properties. Eosinophilia appeared moderately increased after rapid processing. Tissue preservation appeared best after Perfix fixation with either processing schedule. The shortened processing schedule provides a quick, simple, convenient, permanent section of selected biopsy specimens. The method offers a simple alternative to lengthy routine processing, shortened schedule with heat and vacuum, or frozen sections, with the concomitant advantage of reliable diagnosis of biopsy material received on the same day.