Deep Sections, a Guiding Path for Accurate Diagnosis in Histopathology - A Retrospective Study

Background: The role of pathologists is challenging, as it requires a creative mind to visualize three dimensional aspects of various tissue specimens which becomes their daily menu. Also, training the histotechnologists becomes part & parcel of their life as their skills in pampering the tissues decides the fate of the biopsy. Thus, this study emphasizes the signifi cance of deeper sections & training the technicians. Aim: To determine the number of cases for which deeper sections were required & to emphasize the importance of deep sections over superfi cial sections. Materials and Methods: A total of 250 cases were retrieved and reviewed from the fi les of our department of oral pathology MSRDC dated back from August 2011 to May 2013. The superfi cial and deeper sections of individual selected cases were analysed by two observers. Results: Of 250 cases evaluated, 25 (10%) cases were requested for deeper sections. Of 25 cases, 11/25 (44%) cases required deeper sections as superfi cial sections were undiagnostic, 13/25 (52%) cases also mandated deeper sections as superfi cial sections mislead the diagnosis and only 1/25 (4%) case exclusively revealed additional features on deeper sectioning. Conclusion: Deeper sections in some cases provide an array for accurate diagnosis. Though it is a little time consuming, if not in all cases, a few cases which require deeper sections should be considered without a second thought, as it can lead to a more appropriate diagnosis.