A Study of Artifacts in Skin Biopsy and Preparation of the Histologic Sections

Lee, Jong Suk; Park, See Yong; Kim, Soo Nam

Abstract

Dermatologist should be aware of the practical importance of proper selection of ski.n lesions for histologic examination, the correct methods for performing biopsy, and steps involved in tissue preparation. They should be acquainted with factors producing various artifacts and ways to prevent these changes. This study was undertaken to investigate the artifacts of 300 dermatopathologic tissue sections which prepared by 3 general hospitals in Seoul in 1983. The results were summarized as follows. [.The percentage of artifacts produced by selection of inapropriate lesion was 4. 0% artifacts during biopsy procedure was 18. 3% inadequate size and depth of specimen was 7. 3%, faulty embedding was 12. 0%, tissue tearing or loss was 49. 3% artifactal dermoepidermal separation was 3.0%, linear knife marking was 17.0% thick or thin section was 8. 3% tissue overlapping was 12. 0% uneven stiining or precipitation was 3. 7%, and foreign body contamination was 3, 7% The percentage of good specimen was 21, 7% diagnostic was 56. 3% not diagnostic but suggestive was 8.7% and reading impossible was 13. 3% 3. The major causes of reading impossible specimen which attributed to the procedures of dermatologist were 40.0% to the proccss of technician were 47.5% and to both were 12. 5%