Why it is performed
- Confirm the nature of a lesion or tissue.
- Distinguish benign, inflammatory, premalignant or malignant processes.
- Assess grade, depth, margins and other factors where relevant.
- Guide treatment and follow-up.
How it is performed
The specimen is fixed, processed, embedded in paraffin, cut into thin sections and stained. A specialist examines morphology and may request additional techniques before final diagnosis.
Preparation
- Follow procedure instructions and report anticoagulants, allergies and pregnancy.
- The specimen must be identified with exact site and relevant clinical data.
- Do not open or manipulate the container after collection.
- If tissue is obtained outside Askabide, confirm fixative and transport beforehand.
How Askabide processes it
Combined pathway
Each Askabide centre has a pathology unit for the clinical pathway and sample management. Histological processing and reporting are performed in the authorised unit or relevant partner laboratory, maintaining identification, preservation and traceability.
Part is performed at Askabide and another phase or confirmation is processed externally.
Results and indicative intervals
Intervals vary by method, analyser, reagent, units, age, sex, pregnancy, menstrual-cycle phase and reference population. The valid interval is the one printed on the laboratory report.
| Parameter or result | Indicative reference | How it is interpreted |
|---|---|---|
| Histological diagnosis | Description and diagnostic conclusion | It is not expressed as a numerical normal range. |
| Benign / inflammatory | No malignant criteria in the specimen examined | Must correlate with the clinical lesion and specimen adequacy. |
| Premalignant lesion / dysplasia | Organ-specific classification and grade | Usually requires specific follow-up or treatment. |
| Malignancy | Type, grade and prognostic data where relevant | The report may require immunohistochemistry, biomarkers or additional molecular testing. |
| Margins | Clear / involved / not assessable | Applies only to selected specimens and procedures. |
Important limitations
- A small biopsy may not represent the entire lesion.
- Poor fixation, fragmentation or missing clinical data may limit diagnosis.
- A benign result must fit imaging and examination; otherwise a new sample may be required.
- Turnaround must not be shortened at the expense of diagnostic quality.