title: Fast track biopsy method: a rapid approach to preoperative diagnoses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well known that the use of a microwave oven greatly reduces the time for histoprocessing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Apply the microwave-based histoprocessing method "Fast Track Biopsy" (FTB), previously described for breast needle-core biopsies, to samples of other organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 01/09/2008 to 31/12/2008, 125 normal and neoplastic tissue samples (thickness from 0.2 and 1.2 cm) were collected, processed according to the FTB technique, stained with haematoxylin/eosin (H/E) and analysed with tissue-specific immunohistochemical (IHC) markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quality of both H/E and IHC stained sections was comparable to that obtained with standard methods. Sample thickness less than 0.5 cm gave better results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the FTB method is suitable for most tissue types, and is thus useful for preoperatory diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Haematology and Oncology "L. e A. Seragnoli", University of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Steri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farnedi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montinari
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008872:Microwaves; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde