About pathology sections, these are what you need to know →

What is a pathology section?

Pathological sections, in simple terms, are tissues or cells that doctors take from patients, which are processed and placed on glass slides for them to observe and diagnose. These tissues or cells are fixed on transparent rectangular glass and then sealed with ultra-thin glass slides for preservation, just like the photos we usually see, except that the material is replaced by glass, so people often call it "glass sections". Pathological sections are the "gold standard" for doctors' diagnosis, because they can clearly see every detail of the cells through a microscope, just like watching a high-definition movie, to understand the real condition of the body.

(Photo credit: Photo by Li Mingxian)

What are pathology sections?

There are several types of pathological sections. One is cytopathological section, which is to take some body fluids of the patient, such as pleural effusion, sputum, etc., and make cell sections. This type of section is convenient, economical, and accurate, especially useful in detecting early tumors. Another type is frozen section, which is to quickly freeze the patient's tissue during surgery and then make sections. The pathologist can give a diagnosis within half an hour to help the surgeon decide the next surgical method. The last type is paraffin section, which has a longer production cycle, but the quality is very reliable and suitable for a variety of detection technologies, so be patient when waiting for the results, which usually takes 3-5 days.

What are "white slides" and "stained slides"? The so-called "white slides" refer to thin slices cut from wax blocks and then pasted on glass slides. Since they are not stained, the slices are transparent and whitish, so they are called "white slides". They are essentially the same as wax blocks. "White slides" can be transformed into "stained slides" through staining technology, and "stained slides" include HE (hematoxylin-eosin) stained slides, immunohistochemical stained slides, special stained slides, FISH (fluorescent immuno in situ hybridization) stained slides, etc.

(Photo credit: Photo by Li Mingxian)

What should I pay attention to when borrowing/returning pathology slides ?

When borrowing or returning pathology slides, you need to pay attention to a few points. Outpatient and inpatient pathology slides must be kept for at least 15 years and 30 years, respectively. This is a medical responsibility and obligation. Patients can borrow or return them according to the hospital's requirements, but cytopathology slides and frozen slides cannot be borrowed. FISH slides cannot be borrowed because the staining results expire quickly. If you want a "blank slide", you must tell the doctor the specific requirements, such as the thickness and number of slides.

Let me remind you again, if there is little tissue or the lesion is very small, the number of "white slides" should be determined according to the actual situation. Even if there is enough tissue, the cost should be considered to avoid waste. Both the "stained slides" and "white slides" have been sterilized and will not transmit bacteria. Just store them at room temperature, and be gentle when handling them, and do not shake or bump them violently.

Will pathology slides be replaced?

Now that technology is advanced, there are new ways to play with pathology sections. If you still think that pathologists must look at pathology sections under a microscope, you are too "out of date". The digital section scanning system is like an advanced camera that can scan traditional pathology sections into digital versions and then upload them to the "cloud" server, so that doctors can view and diagnose remotely. This is convenient and safe, and you no longer have to worry about the sections being damaged.

Author: Li Mingxian, Du Xiaohua, Liu Hongying, Yang Haifeng, Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Deputy Secretary-General and Senior Researcher of the Expert Committee of the Chinese Medical Association