title: A step section method for full histopathological assessment of carcinogen-affected target tissue during respiratory carcinogenesis.
abstract: Studies of carcinogenesis that are not limited to overt neoplasms but also involve evaluations of preneoplastic stages require histopathological assessment of the entire carcinogen-affected tissue so that the true nature and sequence of the progressive process can be determined. The customary serial sectioning approach achieves this goal, but at an inordinate logistic cost. In studies of hamster bronchial carcinogenesis, a step section method was compared to a quasi-random approach and to the customary serial section method. The step section method achieved the same diagnostic completeness as serial sectioning, but at a two orders of magnitude reduction in costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Davis 95616.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Teplitz
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Benfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D008748:Methylcholanthrene