title: Rapid toluidine blue stain for Mohs' micrographic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toluidine blue is a useful stain for detecting basal cell carcinoma during Mohs' micrographic surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the efficacy of alkalinization on the toluidine blue stain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1% aqueous toluidine blue-1% aqueous sodium borate solution was used to stain microscope slides for basal cell carcinoma during Mohs' micrographic surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total toluidine blue staining time was reduced to less than 2.5 minutes, without compromising the quality of the stain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid toluidine blue stain reduces staining time while maintaining staining quality, including the advantages specific to the toluidine blue stain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822, USA. mmtodd@geisinger.edu
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride