Hi Histonetters,

Thank you for all your suggestions on helping me get the tissue to stay on.

After discussing this with a few knowledgeable people, we have come to the conclusion that it is the patient's tissue causing this problem.  The patient has been diagnosed with a fibromyxoid sarcoma.  This myxoid tissue does not fix well, in some cases leaving a sort of mucinous, oily type film.  Therefore, whenever I do a heat retrieval, these cells will not adhere to the slide.

I have tried reprocessing the tissue with no luck. I have tried using vectabond coated slides with minimal results.  I am wondering if, after I have deparaffinized the slides, I put them in 10% formalin for about 10 minutes - hoping to fix the tissue better - and then go on and do a steam heat retrieval.

There isn't that much tumor to work with, otherwise I suppose I could carry on forever.

Has anyone ever dealt with a myxoid tumor?  and have you tried doing a postfixative with formalin to help tissue adhesion?

Thanks for your help.

Ann


Ann Maruska
Fairview-University Medical Center
Mpls. MN  55454
amarusk1@fairview.org
612-273-9119