Cone-biopsy histology report.

Sanerkin and Fraser (1975) describte a technique designed to facilitate orientation of blocks and sections (and diminish the workload olWechncian and pathologist) and they refer to the problems inherent in the handling and sectioning of .-cervical cone-biopsies. They effect orientation by means of a stained track made in the anterior lip of the cervix with a needle but the technique in its simplicity falls short of the comprehensiveness and precision which are technically possible and desirable. In this hospital a routine for handling cervical cone-biopsies and their subsequent histological examination and reporting has, after trial of several methods over a period of years, evolved and become established. This routine and the merits claimed for it are outlined. The cone-biopsy specimen, unfixed and unopened (preferably), with a suture insertqd at 12 o'clock is submitted to the laboratory in a plastjc bag to prevent drying of the epithelial surface. The specimen is then cut and opened out enabling, after fixation, a series of orientated blocks to be cut (fig 1). 2W 16 #1~~~~~~~~~~~1 '5~~~~ Fig 1 Shows diagrammatically the ring of cone-biopsy tissue (with suture at 12 o'clock) and the series oforientated blocks cut, from right to left, after the cone has been opened out andfixed. A change in the angle ofsectioning, sometimes necessitated by the curvature of the specimen, is indicated after block 13, and wedge blocks (2W, blocks 15 and 16) may sometimes require to be cutfrom the cervical stroma to restore to 90° the angle between the plane ofsectioning and the epithelial surface. The cut edges made by thepathologist on opening the cone are clearly marked. 167 Excess mucus and blood should first be removed very gently from the surface of the specimen using a soft tissue (Medical Wipe) moistened with isotonic saline. It is then stained with Lugol's iodine solution applied with a fine soft flat brush, laid out in a Petri dish, and photographed with a Polaroid camera'. O5nce a routine is established this is not a time-consuming exercise and, with a camera installed in the laboratory, can b, completed within five to 10 minutes. During this sequence the surface of the cervix must not be allowed to dry. After overnight fixation in formol/corrosive solution , blocks are cut and plotted on the Polaroid phcitographeusing a felt-tip pen. Using colour pencils , in conjunction with a colour code, the histological findigs,are subsequently depicted on a tracing of …