This document provides an overview of tissue collection and grossing procedures. It discusses sources of tissue specimens, necessary instruments, and the basic procedure. Specimen dissection plans are outlined for different tissue types. Finally, various methods for sampling tissue outside the laboratory are listed, including biopsies, imaging techniques, and surgical procedures.

1. Histological Techniques
Tissue Collection and Grossing
(Section 1)
Dr Mathew Joseph
MD Anatomy (3rd year)
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh

2. Contents
Tissue collection and Grossing:
• Sources of sampling
• Instruments
• Procedure
• Specimen dissection plan
• Sampling of tissue outside the laboratory

4. Section 1
Tissue Collection and Grossing

5. Source of Organ/Tissue/Specimen
1. Surgical resection material and biopsy
material
2. Postmortem specimens (Preferably recent)
3. Animals: Well perfused experimental /
Butchers

6. Workstation
• Well illuminated room
• Ventilation and exhaust fan
• Appropriate sink
• Waste disposal unit
• Firm, even and clean surface

8. Instruments
• Scalpel blades
• Scissors
• Probes
• Stainless steel ruler
• Forceps
• Sponges
• First-aid box with eye wash bottle

15. Procedure Overview
• Identification of specimen
• Labelling of specimen
• Store in normal saline
Exposure to air
• Nervous tissue – Fixative (4 degree C)
Avoid water
• Wash excess of blood and mucous

17. Specimen Dissection Plans
SNo Specimen Procedure
1 Small sample Rarely need further dissection
2 Large sample While embedding lay out tissue in longitudinal fashion
so that the plane of section cuts along the majority of
the tissue:
If >4-5 mm divide into two halves along the long axis.
3 Skin Mounted on edge to provide an adequate view of the
epidermis, dermis and subcuticular substrates
4 Bowel Sampled with multiple blocks in relation to the adjacent
mucosa, wall and serosal aspect tissues.
5 Brain Fixed immediately : Cut into slices once the fixation is
done
6 Bone Fixation : Decalcification in EDTA

18. Sampling of tissue outside the
laboratory
• Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation
(ABBI)
• Brush biopsy
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Cone biopsy
• Core biopsy
• Crosby capsule
• Curettings

19. Sampling of tissue outside the
laboratory
• Ductal lavage
• Endoscopic biopsy
• Endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Evacuation
• Excision biopsy
• Fine needle aspiration
• Fluroscopy

20. Sampling of tissue outside the
laboratory
• Frozen section
• Imprint
• Incision biopsy
• Liquid based cytology (LBC)
• Loop electrosurgical excison procedure (LEEP)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Mammography
• Needle biopsy

21. Sampling of tissue outside the
laboratory
• Positron emission tomography with
fluorodeoxy- glucose (PET with FDG)
• Punch biopsy
• Sentinel node biopsy
• Shave biopsy
• Smears
• Stereotactic biopsy
• Transurethral resection

22. Sampling of tissue outside the
laboratory
• Trephine (bone marrow) biopsy
• Ultrasound
• Vacuum-assisted biopsies
• Wire localisation biopsy

23. Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation
(ABBI)

35. Thank You