Variability in Hepatic Iron Concentration in Percutaneous Needle Biopsy Specimens From Patients With Transfusional Hemosiderosis
Open Access
- 1 January 2005
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Clinical Pathology
- Vol. 123 (1) , 146-152
- https://doi.org/10.1309/puux-egxd-lh26-nxa2
Abstract
In patients with sickle cell disease or β-thalassemia receiving RBC transfusions for a long period, a precise knowledge of the liver iron concentration (LIC) is essential for treatment. Patients underwent LIC and liver pathology assessment by duplicate biopsies in 2 passes from the same local liver site. Fresh tissue cores in trace element–free containers and tissues from dissolved paraffin-embedded cores were analyzed. LIC measurements in each of 2 paraffin-embedded cores did not differ significantly (median, 12,455 vs 12,153 μg/g dry weight; n = 29). A significant difference was observed when 1 fresh tissue sample and 1 paraffin-embedded core were analyzed (median, 11,716 vs 12,864 μg/g dry weight; n = 16; P < .001) with a median disagreement between LIC measurements of 23.0%. We found high agreement in LICs between liver biopsy specimens processed by the paraffin-embedding technique but overestimation of LICs in comparison with desiccated fresh tissue samples.Keywords
This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: