What type of tissue would not fix well on this schedule?

• A. Gastric biopsies
• B. Skin biopsy
• C. Prostate tissue
• D. Lymph node

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that some fixation schedules are too dehydrating or fail to preserve mucin-rich, delicate tissues. Gastric mucosa contains mucus and glandular epithelium that are sensitive to dehydration and chemical extraction. An alcohol-heavy or otherwise dehydrating fixation can dissolve or strip away mucin and disrupt the delicate surface architecture, so tiny gastric biopsy pieces may autolyze and lose their normal morphology. Because of that vulnerability, this schedule won’t preserve the gastric biopsy well, unlike other tissues that are more robust under the same fixative conditions. Skin, prostate, and lymph node tissues are generally denser and less dependent on preserving mucin-rich surfaces, so they tend to fix adequately with such schedules.