Histopathology Artifacts Quiz

 

ANSWER CASE 10

This micrograph shows streaming artefact in a formalin fixed section of liver stained by the PAS method. The polarisation of cytoplasmic granules is quite obvious (which is largely glycogen confirmed by diastase digestion). It is caused by the precipitation and displacement of glycogen by the advancing fixation front. The effect may not be quite so obvious in tissues fixed in specialised glycogen fixatives such as formal alcohol or Bouin's but it can only be completely avoided by freeze-drying. So the correct answer is glycogen streaming artefact.




 
© Roy C. Ellis 2004