Fluorescence in situ hybridization on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections

Area of Science:

• Molecular Pathology
• Cytogenetics
• Histopathology

Background:

• In situ hybridization (ISH) has a long history, but its use in solid tissue is recent.
• Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is increasingly recognized as viable for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
• Routine diagnostic implementation of FFPE FISH is limited due to perceived technical complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the utility of FFPE FISH in solid tissue analysis.
• To address the challenges and benefits of implementing FFPE FISH in diagnostics.
• To showcase FFPE FISH's role in diagnosing difficult lymphoma subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques.
• Utilizing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples.
• Comparative analysis with conventional cytogenetic samples.

Main Results:

• FFPE FISH enables retrospective analysis of archived solid tissue specimens.
• The technique is valuable for diagnosing challenging morphologic cases.
• Specific lymphoma subtypes like Burkitt-like lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and mantle-cell lymphoma benefit from FFPE FISH.

Conclusions:

• FFPE FISH is a viable and valuable tool for solid tissue analysis.
• Despite perceived difficulties, FFPE FISH offers significant diagnostic advantages.
• The technique is particularly useful for retrospective studies and challenging lymphoma diagnoses.