Standardized processing of native tissue in breast pathology

Abstract

In breast surgery, replacement of intraoperative frozen section by core needle and vacuum biopsies hampers collections of unfixed breast specimens. We practice immediate intraoperative macroscopic analysis of resection margins and vacuumcooling of breast specimens to enable native tissue asservation for assessment of biological markers and tissue banking of tumor tissue. In addition, slicing of native tissue before formalin fixation guarantees a standardized and uniform fixation. Starting in 2013, more than 350 breast specimens were processed as native specimens in the Institute of Pathology of Hannover Medical School. Breast specimens with an invasive carcinoma and request of an intraoperative resection margin assessment were processed with an immediate intraoperative pathological analysis. All other breast specimens without assessment of an intraoperative resection margin were vacuum-fixed processed. In all cases, native tissue for biomarker analyses and tumor banking could be preserved.