Joyce,

I remember having a whole closet full of implants and other weird looking
things.  I remember wishing  the patients would request them.  Risk
Management required the lab to keep them for an indefinite amount of time
due to law-suits.

They were examined grossly only.  The only reason I can think of for doing
more would be if a law-suit was pending.  In which case, the attorneys
would get involved.  I would suggest you get more information from the
patient as to what her plans are for the information she feels she will
gain.  If an attorney is involved,  call Risk Management they should be
involved.

I'm not sure what you mean by the breast capsule was attached.  Does that
mean breast tissue?

Rande Kline, HT (ASCP)






"Weems, Joyce" <JWEEMS@sjha.org> on 06/16/99 07:57:21 AM

To:   'Histonet' <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:
Subject:  RE: Breast Implants




OK - Is everyone ignoring me or what!!! :>)

Do you release your breast implants dry or in a solution? Thanks, j

-----Original Message-----
From:     Weems, Joyce
Sent:     Monday, June 14, 1999 5:37 PM
To:  'Histonet'
Subject:  Breast Implants

Two questions:

1.   Do you release breast implants to patients in an alcohol or
formalin substitute? We wash them in a bleach solution and release
them in the dry state. However, if the specimen has been around for
mold can end up growing all over it. Our pathologist wonders if there
is a standard in the industry for this procedure.

2.   The owner of the above implants has contacted our pathologist
requesting that her breast capsule (which has adhered to the shell of
the implants) be dissected from the shell under videotaped
surveillance. "A lab told her this," she says. Has anyone heard of
such a procedure?

Thanks in advance, j:>)