FW: [Histonet] Microwave Processing

[Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist]

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall <@t> rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven E. Slap [mailto:siksik03 <@t> comcast.net]
Sent: 20 April 2004 14:55
To: Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Microwave Processing


Hi Terry & HistoNetters

Yes, in the Leong method for biopsies, the specimens are heat 
stabilized in the microwave in saline, and not really chemically 
fixed.  They get fixed in the ethanol in a traditional processor 
(Leong used ethanol, chloroform and paraffin-  no xylene).  I haven't 
seen the resulting morphology myself.

As for breasts, the Milestone unit has a module, the DDG, which is 
280mm x 250mm, for stabilization of breasts and other large organs. 
One advantage with breasts is that the nodes just light up bright 
white.

Parenthetically, I don't believe that the breasts in Yorkshire could 
possibly be bigger than  in the American South...

best regards,
Steven


>Thanks Steven. It was the Leong method to which I referred.
>I am totally befuddled over fixation in the microwave. Surely in the 
>Leong method (for blocks), the saline is irrelevent other than as a 
>carrier and buffer medium, and it is heat fixation?
>
>Firming up breasts in the microwave seems fun - but the breasts in 
>Yorkshire are bigger than the microwaves:-)