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Refining the ‘cucumber’ technique for laryngeal biopsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2011

S Robertson ,
L Cooper ,
A McPhaden  and
K MacKenzie
S Robertson*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
L Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
A McPhaden
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
K MacKenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Stuart Robertson, Specialist Registrar, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G4 0SF, Scotland, UK Fax: 0141 3574725 E-mail: stuart@glasgow.org
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Abstract

Objectives:

To refine the case selection process for the ‘cucumber’ mounting system for laryngeal biopsies.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective audit of cucumber technique specimens taken between January 2002 and December 2008. We analysed the clinical indications for biopsy and the pathological diagnosis, for each specimen, in order to inform our case selection process.

Results:

The cucumber technique was used for 125 laryngeal specimens. 60 specimens were taken for diagnostic sampling, 46 were taken during endoscopic laser resection, and 19 for overtly benign pathology. The cucumber technique was most useful for the interpretation of margins in endoscopic laser resection specimens.

Conclusion:

The cucumber technique is most useful for endoscopic resection cases in which tumour, dysplasia or suspicious lesions have been excised. Detailed information on resection margins is invaluable during multidisciplinary team discussions on patient management. Detailed photography of mounted specimens enables both laryngologist and pathologist to orientate and interpret specimens accurately.

Keywords

Laryngeal NeoplasmsHistologyInterdisciplinary Communication
Type
Short Communication
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 6 , June 2011 , pp. 626 - 629
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

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References

1Murray, CE, Cooper, L, Handa, KK, MacLeod, T, MacKenzie, K. A technique for the orientation of endoscopically resected laryngeal lesions. Clin Otol 2007;32:201–203Google Scholar
2Goswami, S, Patra, TK. A clinicopathological study of Reinke's oedema. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;55:160–5Google Scholar