[Histonet] formalin and shrinkage (Gudrun Lang)

[Richey, Lauren]

Gudrun,

I found 3 papers that investigated tissue size after formalin fixation. Apparently, fatty cutaneous tissue may shrink, while other tissue, such as skeletal muscle, may expand. Also, some tissues (skin) may shrink after excision even prior to formalin fixation. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20357519
Oncology. 2010;78(2):115-24. doi: 10.1159/000306140. Epub 2010 Mar 31.
Formalin fixation could interfere with the clinical assessment of the tumor-free margin in tumor surgery: magnetic resonance imaging-based study.
Docquier PL1, Paul L, Cartiaux O, Lecouvet F, Dufrane D, Delloye C, Galant C.

http://www.dermpathmd.com/skin_tags/Shrinkage%20of%20Cutaneous%20Specimens%20.pdf
J Cutan Pathol 2008: 35: 1093-1096
Shrinkage of cutaneous specimens: formalin or other factors involved?

https://www.dovepress.com/breast-specimen-shrinkage-following-formalin-fixation-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PLMI
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine International 2014; 6: 11-14
Breast specimen shrinkage following formalin fixation

This was interesting to me because I have (apparently incorrectly) always thought tissues expanded somewhat in formalin since cut surfaces tend to bulge and it is sometimes harder to get large samples out of narrow-mouth containers after fixation than to put them in. 

Lauren

Lauren Richey, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
Veterinary Pathologist
Director, Tufts Comparative Pathology Services
Assistant Director, DLAM
Tufts University
Boston MA 02111
617-636-6488
http://sites.tufts.edu/histopath



Today's Topics:

   1. Re: formalin and shrinkage (Jay Lundgren)
   2. Re: formalin and shrinkage (Michael Ann Jones)
   3. Re: Davidson's fixative and IHC question (Jay Lundgren)
   4. Re: formalin and shrinkage (Gudrun Lang)
   5. Re: Davidson's fixative and IHC question (Gudrun Lang)
   6. Re: Shrinkage (Terri  Braud)
   7. BCL-10 for IHC-P (Bitting, Angela K.)
   8. Re: Shrinkage (Caroline Miller)
   9. Re: Shrinkage (Colleen Forster)
  10. H.Pylori (Stacy McLaughlin)
  11. Giemsa Tissue control options (Charles Riley)
  12. Re: Giemsa Tissue control options (Walter Benton)
  13. h. pylori (Dooley, Elaine)
  14. CD24 (Dooley, Elaine)


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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2016 13:30:46 -0600
From: Jay Lundgren <jaylundgren at gmail.com>
To: gu.lang at gmx.at
Cc: histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] formalin and shrinkage
Message-ID:
	<CANCZNuYzEKMX6MbO3YuKV_-aPQkF7MY9wrsm181LEOpXFQFcdg at mail.gmail.com>
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I was taught at AFIP to expect shrinkage of 10%, in each dimension.  So I guess that's 30% shrinkage overall?  Shrinkage is partially caused by formalin crosslinking the proteins in fixation, and partially by dehydration.  Maybe a little shrinkage in xylene too?  From removal of fat in adipose tissues?
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00695061#page-1

Is your Pathologist really concerned about shrinkage, or about curling and distortion of small shave bxs?  Because a certain degree of shrinkage is an unavoidable artifact of tissue processing.

If it's the latter, I like to use 2 blue sponges.  I find they really help to keep things flat and oriented.  Some people don't like them because of carryover.  I just say change your processor reagents more often.

Sincerely,

    Jay A. Lundgren, M.S., HTL (ASCP)


On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 9:59 AM, Gudrun Lang via Histonet < histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

> Hi!
>
> Today someone asked me about shrinkage caused by the fixation with 
> formaldehyde specially on skin-biopsies.  She spoke about shrinkage of 
> 30% percent. In my opinion shrinkage is mainly caused by the 
> processing with dehydration and defatting. Formaldehyde renders the 
> tissue harder but not strictly smaller.
>
>
>
> What is the opinion of the community?
>
>
>
> Gudrun
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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