Mrs Karthika Vj, Dr Arthy Raman, Dr Subhashini Rammoorthi, Dr Debasis Gochhait, Dr Sreerekha Jinkala,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (7-2025)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Conventional tissue processing (CTP) is the gold standard method for tissue processing but the method is relatively time-consuming. Microwave tissue processing reduces the turn- around time (TAT) and gives comparable histomorphology as conventional tissue processing. The objective was to compare the laboratory grade microwave (LMP) and domestic microwave tissue processing (DMP) with conventional tissue processing (CTP) in terms of histomorphology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.
Methods: Three tissue bits from 89 formalin fixed resection specimens were processed by CTP, LMP and DMP processing methods and stained with H&E staining. In subgroup analysis, IHC was done on 17 relevant cases using two antibodies Ki67 (nuclear) and Pancytokeratin (membranous and cytoplasmic). Parameters like clarity of section, cytoplasmic details, nuclear details, colour intensity and interface of epithelium and connective tissue were studied. Parameters like colour intensity, localisation of antigen, background staining and crispness of staining were studied on IHC. The results were analyzed by using Kappa statistics.
Results: There was a fair to moderate agreement between the conventional tissue processing and laboratory microwave tissue processing. There was a slight to fair agreement between the conventional tissue processing to domestic microwave tissue processing and laboratory microwave processing to domestic microwave processing.
Conclusion: Microwave tissue processing reduced the turnaround time The overall quality of laboratory microwave processed tissue was better than domestic microwave processing and is equally good as that of conventional tissue processing.
