An Improved Processing Method for Breast Whole-Mount Serial Sections for Three-Dimensional Histopathology Imaging

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 131; no. 3; pp. 383 - 392
• Main Authors: LAIBAO SUN, DAN WANG, ZUBOVITS, Judit T, YAFFE, Martin J, CLARKE, Gina M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Society of Clinical Pathologists 01-03-2009
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Diagnostic Imaging - instrumentation; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Histocytological Preparation Techniques - instrumentation; Histocytological Preparation Techniques - methods; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Microwaves; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Time Factors; Tumors; Histology processing; Whole-mount sections; Breast disease; Microwave; Breast cancer; Histology; Malignant tumor; Method; Section; 3-D Histopathology imaging; Mammary gland diseases; Anatomic pathology; Histopathology; Breast; Medical imagery; Mammary gland; Cancer
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/ajcpvbzz4ikjhy3u

To develop and validate improved processing methods for producing diagnostic-quality, whole-mount serial sections for 3-dimensional imaging of whole-breast histopathologic studies, we subjected 4-mm-thick whole-specimen slices to a 38-hour microwave-assisted protocol. Morphologic features, antigenicity, and tissue shrinkage were evaluated. A schedule using the tissue processor was optimized by evaluating the serial section yield for 3 schedules. The microwave-based processing schedule is adequate for producing diagnostic-quality whole-mount breast serial sections of an area up to 6,000 mm(2) and is compatible with a variety of immunohistochemical stains. A mean +/- SE total tissue shrinkage of 8.4% +/- 0.2% resulted. For the tissue processor, optimal results are obtained using a 59-hour schedule. Total fixation and processing time for whole-mount serial breast sections has been reduced from 21 days to 38 hours, with microwave assistance, and to 59 hours without. No adverse effects of microwaves on morphologic features, antigenicity, or gross tissue dimensions were observed.