Wedge resection margin distances and residual adenocarcinoma in lobectomy specimens.

We studied 31 T1 N0 M0 peripheral adenocarcinomas diagnosed by wedge resection and treated by lobectomy. Factors recorded were pleural surface-based, gross cut-surface, and microscopic margin distances; morphologic features of the adenocarcinomas; microscopic extension distance of beyond gross perimeter of neoplasm; and presence of residual adenocarcinoma in the lobectomy specimen. All staple-line margins in the wedge and lobectomy specimens underwent complete histologic examination.

Minimum formalin fixation time for consistent estrogen receptor immunohistochemical staining of invasive breast carcinoma.

To identify the minimum time necessary for consistent immunohistochemical estrogen receptor (ER) results in our laboratory, we evaluated results in timed fixation blocks and cases with disparate and similar needle core biopsy and partial mastectomy specimens. Tissue sections of 24 ER-positive, invasive breast carcinomas were fixed for 3, 6, 8, and 12 hours and 1, 2, and 7 days. ER values were quantified using the Q score (0-7).