Is the grading of breast carcinomas affected by a delay in fixation?

Author(s): Start RD, Flynn MS, Cross SS, Rogers K, Smith JH

Publication: Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol, 1991, Vol. 419, Page 475-7

PubMed ID: 1750194 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine whether storing breast cancer specimens at room temperature prior to fixation affects total number of mitotic figures, tubule formation, nuclear pleomorphism, or histological grade.

   Summary of Findings:

   The number of observed mitoses declined significantly (p<0.01) with increasing cold ischemia time for all 8 specimens examined. After a 6 hour delay in fixation, the average decrease in mitotic figures was 53% with a range of 39-64%. In 1 of the 8 specimens, the changes in observed mitoses resulted in a modified Bloom and Richardson tumor grade change from a 3 with 0.5 h cold ischemia to a 2 after a 6 h delay. Increasing cold ischemia time had no effect on tubule formation or nuclear pleomorphism.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Breast

   Preservative Types

   • Formalin

   Diagnoses:

   • Neoplastic - Carcinoma

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Morphology	H-and-E microscopy

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Cold ischemia time	0.5 h 1 h 2 h 4 h 6 h 18 h 24 h
   Storage	Storage temperature	20 degrees C

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