CAP Member Pathologist Answers Cancer Questions
Dr. Wayne Duke, vice chair of pathology department at Baystate Regional Medical CenterCancer Q&A: Pathologists, oncologists collaborate to pinpoint treatment By Dr. Wayne Duke Daily Hampshire Gazette Q. How is a biopsy handled? A. Tissue specimens, otherwise referred to as biopsies, are initially placed in a preservative called formalin. The tissue is then processed into wax (paraffin) blocks to allow for the cutting of very thin slices by a specialized instrument called a microtome. These tissue slices are placed onto glass slides and stained to highlight the structure of the