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Histology Spring 2020 > Embedding > Flashcards

Embedding Flashcards

1
Q

Embedding

A

Enclosing the tissue in infiltration medium, usually paraffin and then allowing the medium to solidify

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2
Q

Embedding Medium

A

The material used to enclose and support processed tissue, usually paraffin

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3
Q

Cryoconsole

A

Cold section of the embedding station used to solidify paraffin blocks

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4
Q

Thermoconsole

A

Used to heat processed tissue and paraffin for embedding

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5
Q

Molds

A

Contain the molten wax and tissue until fully cooled and solid, gives the block its shape and size

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6
Q

Skin Orientation

A

Embedded on edge and with all epidermal surfaces facing one side of the mold in the same direction

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7
Q

Tubular Structure Orientation

A

In cross section so all layers of the tube are visible; lumen, mucosa, submucosa, and muscle

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8
Q

Structures with a Wall Orientation

A 
Ex: cysts or gallbladder
On edge (like skin) so all layers are visible
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9
Q

Bone Orientation

A

At an angle to reduce the surface area in contact with the blade while sectioning

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10
Q

Structures Containing Mucosa Orientation

A

In cross section so all layers are visible

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11
Q

Aggregate specimen orientation (Like endometrial currettings)

A

In a line down the center of the block if possible, or clustered together

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12
Q

Effect of overheated embedding medium

A

Hard, dry, brittle tissue

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13
Q

Optimum temperature of paraffin for embedding

A

55-58C

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14
Q

Paraffin melting point with respect to thickness, hardness, and ribbons

A

High melting point gives good thin sections, more support for hard things like bone, and less good for ribbons
lower melting point gives less good thin sections, less support for hard tissues, and ribbons more easily

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15
Q

Importance of preventative maintenance and QC procedures to ensure instrument reliability

A

Change solutions regularly to prevent contamination
Temperature logs to prevent over hardened tissue
Regular maintenance by a service technician to ensure optimal function

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16
Q

Proper method for embedding a tissue specimen

A 
Open one cassette at a time
Fill mold with molten wax
add specimen
generally orient specimen
start cooling
complete orientation
complete cooling
adhere identifying cassette lid
leave on cold plate to finish hardening
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17
Q

Two ways orientation can be communicated from grosser to embedder

A

Mark specimen with ink at the grossing station

Instructions on the side of the cassette

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18
Q

Effects of embedding tissue horizontally

A

Increases surface area in contact with the blade, can make sectioning more difficult, especially with bone specimens

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19
Q

Effects of embedding on multiple planes

A

Difficult to get all the relevant tissue in one section

May loose on piece of tissue while trimming to get the other in the same section

20
Q

Tissue thickness and embedding techniques

A

Hard to embed tissue that is grossed too thickly, also tends to result in mushy and hard to section tissue

21
Q

At what stage should embedding orientation be decided?

A

At the grossing station by the pathologist or PA

22
Q

What is the most critical step in embedding?

A

Orientation

23
Q

What is the best paraffin melting point for routine work?

A

55-58C

24
Q

Negative result when: Embedding paraffin is overheated?

A

over hardened or brittle tissue that is difficult to section, difficult to get ribbons

25
Q

Negative result when: Soft/lower melting point paraffin is used to embed bone?

A

Not enough support to get thin, crisp sections

26
Q

Negative result when: Sections are not embedded flat at the same level?

A

You can lose a lot of valuable tissue during trimming while trying to get all the pieces in one plane

Or you might lose one piece of tissue while getting to others

27
Q

Negative result when: A section of bone is not embedded at an angle?

A

Harder to section because the angle helps reduce the surface in contact with the blade at any given time

28
Q

Negative result when: The lumen is not visible in a section of fallopian tube?

A

Unable to visualize all the relevant layers (mucosa, submucosa, muscle) necessary for diagnosis

29
Q

Negative result when: Forceps are not wiped with gauze between samples?

A

Carryover of tissue between samples (forceps metastasis), cross contamination of samples

30
Q

Negative result when: Tissue is cut too thick at the grossing table?

A

Mush tissue comes out of the processor
might not fit into the cassette or mold
doesn’t section well, might explode on the water bath

31
Q

Negative result when: The side of the cassette is not read before embedding?

A

incorrect orientation for type of tissue

may miss the correct number of tissue pieces to be embedded

32
Q

Negative result when: lens paper containing the tissue is not opened completely?

A

Might miss small fragments that should have been embedded

33
Q

Negative result when: Softer paraffin (low melting point) is used to cut kidney at 2 microns?

A

Too soft to get crisp sections, lots of compression of sections
High melting point paraffin is better for thin sections

34
Q

Negative result when: Blocks aren’t cooled as rapidly as possible on the embedding center?

A

Tissue on edge may fall out of alignment

ice crystals may form

35
Q

Embedding material for Electron Microscopy

A

Epoxy resins

36
Q

Embedding material for Nervous System Tissue

A

Celloidin

37
Q

Embedding material for Un-decalcified Bone

A

Glycol Methacrylate (GMA)

38
Q

Embedding material for Fatty Tissues

A

Carbowax (water soluble)

39
Q

Embedding material for Frozen Sections

A

30% Sucrose

40
Q

What do you do with floaters in the embedding center?

A

Put in a blank cassette, label with your initials, the date, and embed the tissue to later identify

41
Q

What do you do if you chunk a block but there is still tissue left?

A

Melt down the block and re-embed, especially if you still need more sections from the block

42
Q

What if a cassette label says 2 pieces, but you only find 1?

A

Check the embedding center and your immediate surroundings for floaters/jumpers
Check with supervisor
Check trash, etc.

43
Q

Vas deferens (tubular structure) is embedded longitudinally, rather than in cross-section. What do you do?

A

Check with the pathologist to confirm whether they wanted longitudinal orientation
Melt down and re-embed in cross-section

44
Q

Pathologist sees squamous skin calls on a prostate sample, what could have caused this?

A

Lack of gloves while embedding or picking up slides in the water bath

Wear gloves/ skim water bath regularly/don’t put your fingers in the water-bath

45
Q

Open cassette to embed a derm, but there’s no sample inside

A

Check immediate surroundings, trash, supervisor, alert lab

Histology Spring 2020 (14 decks)

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