Cassetting: Sponge versus Wrapping

This version of the course is no longer available.
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course . Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about (online CE course)
Cassetting: Sponge versus Wrapping

Liver biopsies are delicate and subject to grossing artifacts. Using sponges to secure biopsy tissue in a tissue cassette has been proven to cause compression artifact in liver biopsies, demonstrated in the top image. Using lens paper or commercial biopsy wraps to secure liver biopsy tissues in tissue cassettes is recommended. This will provide favorable results, preserving tissue architecture for diagnosis, as shown in the lower image.

Liver bx. (Masson's trichrome) demonstrating compression artifact caused by
the use of sponges for tissue cassetting.
A liver biopsy stained by Masson's Trichrome demonstrating normal tissue
architecture and favorable tissue cassetting.