Role of deeper sections in diagnostic oral histopathology: A retrospective study

Abstract

Diagnostic laboratories must balance the utility of deeper levels with the additional time required and expense incurred and the impact on patient care. Deeper sections are inevitable in certain situations and periodical auditing of laboratory work will reduce the need for additional sections and delay in the dispatch of biopsy report.

Step Section Analysis in Routine Dermatopathology practiceA study.

“…Traditionally, deeper levels are obtained, at the request of the pathologist, after the original slides have been reviewed-retrospective step sections [2]. In some laboratories step sections are prepared prior to receipt of the slides by the histopathologist-prospective step sections [1].…”

“…Proper supervision and training of the laboratory technician in terms of orientation of the tissues will minimize the chances of deeper sections [2] and hence reduce economic burden on the patients.…”

“…Incomplete sectioning through, a tissue block creates sampling error resulting in false negative diagnosis. In dermatopathology ,studies suggest that deeper levels provide more accurate diagnosis in one third of skin biopsies [1].The pathologist may require sections at different levels to be examined for final diagnosis and such situations necessitates the need for deeper sectioning [2].Despite the clear importance of diagnosing invasive or in situ skin cancer,few objective data exist to guide the dermatopathologist in deciding whether to examine additional step sections [3].In small biopsy specimens such as needle core and endoscopic biopsies deeper sectioning is routinely used in many laboratories to enhance sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy [4][5][6][7]. However, there are not many studies done and currently no standard methods are available to direct the performance of step sections .…”

Diagnostic Reliability of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology against Histopathology for the Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Leukoplakia

“…One slide was stained with H&E and another one slide with rapid papanicolaou and traut (PAP) stain. 1,2,[12][13][14][15] An incisional biopsy was performed at the site of FNAC. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were then sectioned to 0.5 µm thickness and stained with routine H&E stain.…”

“…It has been employed extensively in the study of lymph nodes, salivary glands and bone lesions. 1,[12][13][14]16,17 When the aspirations are performed by cytopathologists, it is easy to perform a rapid staining of the first smear and within 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the material is sufficient and diagnosable and to suggest a preliminary diagnosis. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10]…”