Aspiration biopsy cytology and special stains

Histochemical methods play a vital role in the histology laboratory. The application of histochemistry to aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC) has shown equal promise in the demonstration of distinctive intracytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic substances. In our examination of more than 8,000 fine needle aspirates, we have found that certain histochemical studies may be of special diagnostic importance. These include mucicarmine, periodic acid-Schiff, oil red O, Fontana-Masson argentaffin and Gomori's iron stains. With the exception of the oil red O stain for neutral lipids (alcohol soluble), each may be applied to the destained smear initially prepared according to the method of Papanicolaou. Modifications of these histologic stains have been made to suit the "rapid service" motto of our busy cytology laboratory.