TRANSVERSE SCALP SECTIONS - A PROPOSED METHOD FOR LABORATORY PROCESSING

Background: Transverse sections of human scalp biopsy specimens can pr ovide both qualitative and quantitative information about follicular h istopathology not readily available in vertically sectioned specimens. Objective: We propose a method for making the processing and interpre tation of such specimens easier. Methods: All scalp biopsy specimens o btained during the past 18 months in our institution for the evaluatio n of alopecia were processed for transverse sections by means of a tec hnique employing trisection or quadrisection (rather than the standard bisection), and maintaining all sections in the same anatomic orienta tion (deep to superficial) in all tissue pieces on microscopic slides. Results: More than 120 transversely sectioned specimens from more tha n 75 patients have been processed with this technique. The typical num ber of slides cut per specimen decreased from between 12 and 20 to bet ween 1 and 4, with no loss of clinical information. Conclusion: This t echnique allows transverse sections for evaluation of alopecia to be p rocessed in a more cost-effective manner and compares favorably with p reviously published techniques in providing diagnostic information.