INTRODUCTION OF HISTOPATHOLOGY

• Introduction
• Histopathology: is a branch of pathology which deals with the
study of disease in a tissue section.
• Histology: is the study of tissues and their structures of plants
and animals, it's commonly performed by examining cells of
tissues under alight microscope or electron microscope.
• Pathology: is the study of diseases and of the changes that they
causes changes in a person, an animal, or plant that are caused
by diseases.
• The term histochemistry means study of chemical nature of
the tissue components by histological methods.
• The cell is the single structural unit of all tissues.
The study of cell is called cytology.
• A tissue is a group of cells specialized and differentiated to
perform a specialized function.
• Collection of different type of cells forms an organ.
• Types of material
1. As biopsy: A small piece of lesions or tumor which in sent
for diagnosis before final removal of the lesion or the tumor
Incisional biopsy.
• If the whole of the tumor or lesion is sent for examination
and diagnosis by the pathologist, it is called excisional
biopsy.
2. Tissues from the autopsy are sent for the study of disease
and its course, for the advancement of medicine.
Types of Histopathological Preparations

1. Whole mounts: These are preparation entire animal

eg. Fungus, parasite. These preparations should be no
more than 0.2 mm in thickness.
2. Sections: The majority of the preparations in histology are
sections.
The tissue is cut in about 3-5 mm thick pieces processed
and 5 microns thick sections are cut on a microtome.
• There are 2 methods of hardening the tissues:
• One is by freezing them and the other is by embedding
them in a hard material such at paraffin wax or gelatin.
3. Smears: Smears are made from blood, bone marrow or any
fluid such as pleural or ascitic fluid, blood smear and pap
smear
4. Squash: squash preparations where cells are intentionally
squashed or crushed onto a slide to reveal their contents
such as the study of the stages of cell division and watch
chromosomes situation..
 Responsibility of a technician

1. Specimen preservation.

2. Specimen labeling, logging and identification.

3. Preparation of the specimen to facilitate their gross

and microscopy.

4. Record keeping.
To obtain these aims the following point need consideration

1. As soon as the specimen is received in the laboratory, check if

the specimen is properly labeled with the name, age,

Hospital Registration No. and the nature of tissue to be

examined and the requisition form is also duly filled.

2. Also check if the specimen is in proper fixative.Fixative should

be fifteen to twenty times the volume of the specimen.

• Add fixative if not present in sufficient amount.

3. Check if the financial matters have been taken care off.

Check if the financial matters have been taken care off.

4. Make the entries in biopsy register and give the specimen a pathology

number called the accession number.

• Note this number carefully on the requisition form as well as the container.

This number will accompany the specimen everywhere.

3. If the specimen is large inform the pathologist who will make cut in the

specimen so that proper fixation is done. Container should be appropriate

to hold the specimen without distorting it.

6. Blocks of tissues taken for processing should be left in 10%
formalin at 60°C till processing. These would be fixed in 2
hours.

7. Slides should be released for recording after consultation

with the pathologist.

8. Specimens should be kept in their marked container and

discarded after checking with pathologist.

9. Block must be stored at their proper number the same day.

• Note the blocks have to be kept preserved for life long.

Equipment used during this course:
 General safety rules
1. Never pipette by mouth.

2. Do not apply cosmetics and lip balm in the technical work areas.

3. Do not manipulate contact lenses in the technical work areas.

4. When diluting acids, always pour the acid into the water, never the reverse.

5. Wash hands frequently; hands should always be washed immediately after the
removal of gloves.
6. If you are not sure of the reagent properties, handle it as if it were a hazardous
chemical.

7. Discard (in the appropriate manner) all unused, out-of-date chemicals.

8. Examine all procedures for possible replacement of hazardous reagents by less

hazardous substitutes.

9. If the use of a hazardous chemical cannot be eliminated or replaced, the use and
amount of stock should be minimized.
 Hazards in Histopathology lab:
 Biological or Infection Hazards

1. Tuberculosis exposure

2. HIV, hepatitis C VIRUS (HCV), and HBV

3. Handling tissue waste:All tissue waste and any materials coming

in contact with tissue should be disposed of in biohazard bags;
sharp objects should be discarded in special "sharps" containers.

 Mechanical Hazards: Mechanical hazards primarily consist of

sharp instruments (eg, microtome blades, razors, scalpels, and
needles), glass.
 Chemical Hazards
• Employees must prepare an inventory of all hazardous chemicals in the

facility, and obtain copies of the Material Safety Data Sheets

• Employers shall ensure that labels on all incoming containers of

hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced.

• Employers must establish a training program in which employees who

work with hazardous substances are trained to read and interpret

chemical labels

• Employers must establish a means to inform nonemployees or

personnel from other departments of the hazards present in the

workplace.
 Corrosive Substances
• Corrosive Substances Are substances that will cause injury
to the skin and eyes by direct contact or severe damage to
the tissues of the respiratory and alimentary tracts when
inhaled or ingested.
• The effects of corrosive chemicals lead to disruption of cell
membranes, coagulation of proteins, and death of essential
cellular components.
• Fire and Explosion Hazards
Although liquid organic compounds are most commonly thought of as fire hazards,

certain chemicals such as dry picric acid, benzoyl peroxide, and ammoniacal silver

solutions can be explosion hazardsFire extinguishers should be available in a readily

known and accessible places Most fires can be avoided if all laboratory personnel

follow good safety practices.

• Hazardous Chemical Spills and StorageLaboratory personnel must be trained and

prepared to handle spills.If floor drains are present, spill dikes should be available to

prevent hazardous chemicals from entering the sewer system.

• Gloves, aprons, and eye protection should be used in the event of a small spill. Spill

kits should be available in the laboratory with absorbent pads for the solvents,

commercial neutralizers for the acids and alkalis