Frishberg, 1996 Title: Transverse scalp sections: a proposed
method for laboratory processing.
Authors: Frishberg DP, Sperling LC, Guthrie
VM
Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol 1996 Aug;35(2 Pt
1):220-2
PMID: 8708025, UI: 96319524
Affiliated institution: Anatomic
Pathology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington,
DC 20307, USA.
Cited in: Dierickx
BACKGROUND: Transverse sections of human scalp biopsy
specimens can provide both qualitative and quantitative information
about follicular histopathology not readily available in vertically
sectioned specimens.
OBJECTIVE: We propose a method for making the processing
and interpretation of such specimens easier.
METHODS: All scalp biopsy specimens obtained during
the past 18 months in our institution for the evaluation of alopecia
were processed for transverse sections by means of a technique
employing trisection or quadrisection (rather than the standard
bisection), and maintaining all sections in the same anatomic
orientation (deep to superficial) in all tissue pieces on microscopic
slides.
RESULTS: More than 120 transversely sectioned specimens
from more than 75 patients have been processed with this technique.
The typical number of slides cut per specimen decreased from between
12 and 20 to between 1 and 4, with no loss of clinical information.
CONCLUSION: This technique allows transverse sections
for evaluation of alopecia to be processed in a more cost-effective
manner and compares favorably with previously published techniques
in providing diagnostic information.
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