Pa. Jackson et al., A COMPARISON OF LARGE BLOCK MACROSECTIONING AND CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES IN BREAST PATHOLOGY, Virchows Archiv, 425(3), 1994, pp. 243-248
Two techniques for the histological handling of breast specimens, name
ly conventional sampling using small blocks (SB) and a large block (LB
) macrosectioning technique have been compared, with special emphasis
on tumour size and in situ carcinoma, in an attempt to objectively dem
onstrate the advantages of the latter method. This is considered to be
of particular importance in guiding the clinicians in their use of th
e many treatment modalities available for breast carcinoma. All cases
were from the routine surgical caseload; 100 examined by the LB techni
que and 111 using conventional SB. The LB technique gave a reliable me
asurement of invasive carcinoma in 100% of cases compared to only 63%
of SB cases. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), was found more frequentl
y (80% versus 64%) and its extent was more easily and reliably measure
d in the large blocks. The extent of DCIS was significantly greater in
all cases using large block techniques. Concurrent carcinomas were fo
und more frequently in the LB series and these tumours were smaller th
an those in the SB series. Similar differences were noted with radial
scars, and other proliferative lesions also had a higher incidence in
the LB series. We conclude that the LB technique has sufficient advant
ages to recommend it as a standard technique in breast pathology.