The root cause of most problems with breast
tissues is trying to process the tissue too soon
or too quickly. Contrary to popular belief, breast
tissues (no matter how fatty) can be processed
well and should cut just like any other tissue.

Let the specimen fix in buffered formalin (or
alcoholic formalin) for 24 hours (or overnight).
Some pathologists will whine about the delay, but
if they want quality sections they will just have
to wait.

Take blocks no thicker than 3-4 millimeters (if
you need to squash to tissue into the cassette,
it's too thick)

Use a processing schedule for fatty tissues (not a
short biopsy schedule). Dehydration should use
70%, 95%, and several changes of 100% alcohol over
a period of 4-5 hours.

Clearing should use at least three changes of
xylene for about one hour each.

Wax impregnation must use vacuum and three changes
of wax. Total time in wax about three hours.

Chill the blocks well and use a new blade.

This approach may take a little longer, but
produces great results. In the end, it is quicker
and better than trying to rush the specimen
through and having to do reprocessing and/or look
at sections that are hard to interpret.

Commercial "answers" to problems like this are
generally less effective than wisely applied
logic.

Paul Bradbury, FIMLS, ART
Kamloops Canada