Plastic embedding as a tool in surgical pathology diagnosis

Plastic (polymer) embedding is recommended as the method of choice for studying small biopsies such as those obtained from liver, bone marrow, lung and by endoscopy from the gastro-intestinal tract. The method offers the opportunity to examine one to four micron thick sections and, therefore, to evaluate cytologic detail. Multiple levels can be obtained from such fragments, and the reasonably large blocks provide adequate section size for diagnostic purposes.