Application of plastic embedding to fine needle aspiration biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible advantages that plastic embedding offers to fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).


METHODS
A series of 54 FNABs was fixed in Kryofix (30 cases) and acetone (24 cases), plastic embedded and cut using a rotative microtome. The 2-micron sections obtained were May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain in all cases; mucicarmine, Alcian Blue, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), PAS-diastase and Feulgen stain for DNA cytometric evaluation were also applied in five cases. Immunocytochemical staining using the antibodies cytokeratin 1-8, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, Ki-67, lysozime, calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen was carried out with the immunoalkaline phosphatase method.


RESULTS
The fragments in the sections were perfectly two dimensional; the architectural features of the original tissues were preserved. Morphologic details of nuclear membranes, nucleoli and mitotic figures were excellent. Cytochemical and immunocytochemical stains were successful in all cases. Immunostains showed the precise location of the signal (nuclear, nucleolar or cytoplasmic), a clear background and preservation of morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
Plastic embedding can be applied to FNAB to solve the problem of dense cellular groups, to study structural and cellular details, and to capitalize on the diagnostic material available for serial cytochemical, quantitative and immunocytochemical purposes.
Zeppa
P
P
Laboratory and Cytopathology Service, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Errico
M E
ME
Boon
M E
ME
Vetrani
A
A
Troncone
G
G
Fulciniti
F
F
Palombini
L
L
D000096:Acetone; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010969:Plastics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005404:Fixatives; D018396:Mucin-1; D010969:Plastics; D014746:Vimentin; C076358:kryofix; D000096:Acetone; D000431:Ethanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D007633:Keratins; D002116:Calcitonin; D009113:Muramidase