Which artifact is described as being seen in the image?

• A. Cell shrinkage
• B. Venetian blind artifact
• C. Air bubble artifact
• D. Chatter artifact

Answer: (A)

Cell shrinkage occurs when tissue contracts during processing, typically from fixation or dehydration steps. On a slide, this shows up as cells that look smaller than normal while the overall tissue architecture remains recognizable. The cell borders may become less distinct and the cytoplasm can appear denser, making the cells seem pinched or compacted, which is a hallmark of this artifact.

This differs from other common artifacts: air bubbles appear as round, clear holes within the tissue; chatter shows up as repetitive waviness or ridges along the section from knife vibration; Venetian blind artifact appears as fine, parallel light/dark banding across the field due to infiltration or mounting issues. The image in question aligns with shrinkage rather than those patterns, making cell shrinkage the best fit.