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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:31
Horizontal Whole Mount: A Novel Processing and Imaging Protocol for Thick, Three-dimensional Tissue Cross-sections of Skin
Published on: August 2, 2017
Methods of labeling skin surgical specimens
Manfred Kneilling1, Helmut Breuninger, Andrea Kastl
1University Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany. manfred.kneilling@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Summary
Choosing the right surgical skin marking system can save costs. Non-commercial options like Edding markers for pre-operative use and autologous blood or eosin for intra-operative use are effective and economical alternatives to expensive commercial markers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Devices
- Surgical Techniques
- Dermatology
Background:
- Accurate skin marking is crucial for surgical excision lines, especially for procedures like vein and sentinel lymph node surgery.
- Pre-operative skin labeling requires dyes that withstand multiple disinfection steps.
- Intra-operative labeling uses sterile systems to define excision borders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review available pre- and intra-operative skin labeling systems.
- To provide guidelines for selecting cost-effective systems for specific surgical procedures.
- To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of various skin marking methods.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of commercial and non-commercial skin labeling systems.
- Analysis of system suitability for pre-operative and intra-operative use.
- Evaluation of cost-effectiveness and performance characteristics.
Main Results:
- Edding permanent markers (400 and 3000) are suitable and cost-effective for pre-operative skin labeling.
- Autologous patient blood and eosin are cost-effective for intra-operative labeling.
- Eosin Y is effective for labeling dark skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle tissue, offering a less expensive alternative.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the diverse range of skin labeling systems aids in reducing reliance on costly commercial markers.
- Knowledge of system properties allows for informed selection based on surgical needs and budget.
- Cost-effective non-commercial options exist for both pre-operative and intra-operative skin marking.
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