Is it necessary to embed bone marrow biopsies in plastic for haematological diagnosis? |
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Authors: | K C GATTER A HERYET D C BROWN D Y MASON |
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Institution: | Nuffield Department of Pathology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK |
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Abstract: | With the increase in the use of bone marrow trephines for diagnosis have come numerous reports that traditional methods of preparation (by decalcification and embedding in paraffin wax) should be replaced by plastic embedding to avoid decalcification. It has been argued that only by this means can the high quality preparations needed for accurate haematopathological diagnosis be achieved. The present study challenges this viewpoint and argues that with a little extra care and attention conventional paraffin embedding techniques can give equally high quality preparations. Sections prepared in this way meet the diagnostic needs of the haematologist, without requiring a separate technique to be established in the pathology laboratory solely for bone marrow trephines. |
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Keywords: | bone marrow biopsies plastic embedding paraffin embedding haematological diagnosis |
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