INTRODUCTION TO HISTOPATHOLOGY

Awal Mir Khattak

Demonstrator MLT

B.Sc. MLT Baqai Medical University Karachi

M.Sc. Hematology Baqai Medical University Karachi
M.Phil. Medical Lab Sciences, The University of Haripur
 HISTOTECHNIQUES
• Histology: The microscopic study of normal tissues
• Histopathology: The microscopic study of diseased
tissues
• Histotechniques: The techniques required for
histological or histopathological microscopic studies
• Histotechnology: The field in which histotechnological
and histopathological techniques performed
• Histotechnologist: The person responsible to perform
histotechnological techniques
 Histopathology Laboratory
• Histotechniques employed in histopathology laboratory, help
a histopathologist to find whether a patient has malignancy
or some other disease.
• Sections of histopathology laboratory are sample receiving
area (reciption), Grossing area, Tissue processing area,
staining area (H and E), Immunohistocehistry section.
• The microscopic examination involves the following steps:
i. Documentation
ii. Fixation
iii. Gross examination
iv. Decalcification
 Histopathology Laboratory
vi. Tissue processing
vii. Embedding
viii. Sectioning
ix. Staining
x. Mounting
 Documentation
Every specimen is given the histopathology (HP) number
which is write down at top corner of the request slip, in a
specified record registered and on the top of container.
 Fixation

• It is a process by which the constituents of cells are fixed

in a physical and partly also in chemical state, so that
they will withstand subsequent treatment with various
regents with a minimum loss, or decomposition.
• This is achieved by exposing the tissues to chemical
compounds called fixatives.
• The process by which a tissue is preserved from changes
is termed as fixation.
 Gross Examination
• The specimen is examined grossly by noting anatomical
features of it.

• Representative sections are selected for further

procedures

• While small biopsies are selected as a whole

 Decalcification
• In case of calcified tissue (bone), calcium salts are
removed from the bony tissue.

• It is done before gross examination

 Tissue processing
• It involves a number of stages in which selected portions
of tissues are passed through a number of chemicals in a
sequence.
• In this stage tissues are impregnated with a solidifying
medium to facilitate its fine section.
• Following four stages are involved
 Completion of fixation
 Dehydration
 Dealcoholization or clearing
 Embedding

In this step all processed tissues are blocked out in a

solidifying medium (paraffin wax) which is used in the
impregnation stage.
 Sectioning

• Paraffin blocks of tissues are then sectioned by means of

a device known as Microtome.
• The sections which are produced are capable of
transmitting light and are at a micron level thickness.
 Staining

• Tissues sections are picked onto slides and staining is

performed in order to examine different tissue
components under the microscope.
 Mounting

• Cover slip is applied on each section using appropriate

medium to obtain permanent preparation for
microscope.
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