title: Microwave processing and ethanol-based fixation in forensic pathology.
abstract: An ethanol-based fixative (FineFIX) has been used, together with rapid microwave-stimulated processing, in postmortem material, resulting in a rapid fixation and processing of the tissues with morphology, histochemical stains, and immunocytochemistry comparable to formalin-fixed material. Furthermore, this alternative fixation gives better DNA recovery in higher amounts if compared with DNA extracted from formalin-fixed tissue, particularly advantageous in forensic pathology.
authors.affiliation: Legal Medicine Section, Department of Medicine and Public Health University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iesurum
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balbi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vasapollo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cicognani
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghimenton
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000431:Ethanol; D005404:Fixatives; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008872:Microwaves; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA