Fast track biopsy method: a rapid approach to preoperative diagnoses.

INTRODUCTION It is well known that the use of a microwave oven greatly reduces the time for histoprocessing. OBJECTIVE Apply the microwave-based histoprocessing method "Fast Track Biopsy" (FTB), previously described for breast needle-core biopsies, to samples of other organs. METHODS From 01/09/2008 to 31/12/2008, 125 normal and neoplastic tissue samples (thickness from 0.2 and 1.2 cm) were collected, processed according to the FTB technique, stained with haematoxylin/eosin (H/E) and analysed with tissue-specific immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. RESULTS The quality of both H/E and IHC stained sections was comparable to that obtained with standard methods. Sample thickness less than 0.5 cm gave better results. DISCUSSION the FTB method is suitable for most tissue types, and is thus useful for preoperatory diagnoses.