Hollande's solution decals small bone specimens and is used for biopsy specimens of which organ system?

• A. Gastrointestinal tract
• B. Skin
• C. Brain
• D. Lymph nodes

Answer: (A)

Decalcification is needed whenever tissue contains mineralized bone so it can be cut into thin sections and stained properly. Hollande's solution is a decalcifying agent used for small bone specimens to remove calcium while preserving tissue detail enough for microscopic evaluation.

Among the given organ systems, the one where a biopsy could conceivably include bone fragments or osseous material is the gastrointestinal tract. Other options—skin, brain, and lymph nodes—do not normally contain bone, so decalcification wouldn’t be required for routine biopsies from those sites. If a GI tract biopsy does contain bone, Hollande's solution would be the appropriate choice to decalcify it and allow proper processing.