A new rapid technique for the fixation of thyroid gland surgical specimens

Pathol Oncol Res. 1999;5(1):70-2. doi: 10.1053/paor.1999.0070.

Abstract

One of the main diagnostic problems in thyroid pathology is to distinguish between follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma. Thorough sampling of the nodule's capsule is recommended in order to identify capsular invasion. However, during the hardening of the tissue, by the usual fixatives the capsule shrinks and rolls downwards and sometimes the capsule separates from the remaining tissue. The present work evaluates the use of "Lymph Node Revealing Solution" (LNRS) for the rapid fixation (2h) of different thyroid lesions as compared to that of formalin. Fifty-one unselected consecutive cases of thyroid nodules, which included various benign and malignant lesions, were examined. Each specimen was cut in two equal parts; one was fixed in LNRS, the other in formalin. Fixation in LNRS for 2 hours gave adequate results in sectioning and staining of the tissue, and excellent immunostains. Its advantage over formalin is the conservation of the natural relationship between the capsule and the rest of the tissue, on the same plane, as well as the short time required for the final diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ethanol*
  • Ether*
  • Female
  • Fixatives*
  • Formaldehyde*
  • Goiter, Nodular / diagnosis
  • Goiter, Nodular / pathology
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Care
  • Liposarcoma / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / secondary
  • Thyroid Nodule / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / diagnosis
  • Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Fixation / methods*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Fixatives
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • lymph node revealing solution
  • Ether
  • Formaldehyde
  • Ethanol
  • Acetic Acid