title: A strategy for efficient handling of fresh tumor needle biopsies that allows histological and cytopathological assessment.
abstract: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery is used in the management of many pediatric solid tumors, and diagnosis is therefore valuable and is frequently made by percutaneous needle biopsy. We describe a method that enhances tissue preservation and obtains a sample for rapid cytopathological assessment. Biopsies are placed in Ham's F(10) culture's medium in theatre and transferred to pathology. The biopsies are retrieved from the medium and dealt as before (submit to cytogenetics; fix in glutharaldheyde; snap frozen at -80 degrees C and routine histology). An equal amount of 90% alcohol is then added to the Ham culture's medium fluid received from theatre before performing a cytospin preparation and a cell clot. We used this method in the diagnosis of 16 tumors demonstrating that this allows a more efficient handling of the biopsy, makes possible a same day diagnosis, enhances the quality of the immunohistochemistry and maximizes the amount of tissue available for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Histopathology Department, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom. marta.cohen@sch.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Marta C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marven
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerrard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor