Histopathology Artifacts Quiz
ANSWER CASE 8
The excision margins of surgical specimens are sometimes marked with
colouring agents or dyes to allow appropriate orientation of the
specimen and assessment of these margins microscopically. This
marking can be done to fresh or fixed tissue with reagents such as
India ink, silver nitrate, Alcian blue or Alcian green. The marking
agent not only colours the surface of the specimen but also
penetrates into the tissue to varying degrees depending upon the
nature of the tissue and may be occasionally encountered in
unexpected situations. The micrograph shows a low magnification view
of the margin of a skin biopsy which has been marked with silver
nitrate. This reagent stains the soft tissues and can be seen to
have penetrated some distance into the dermis. Intense staining of
keratin at the edge of the specimen can also be observed. So the
correct answer is marking dye artefact.

© Roy C. Ellis 2004