What May the Future Hold for Histotechnologists?

Past, present and future: overview on histology and histopathology

“…Over the years different laboratory substances were investigated for use as fixatives. Formalin was first used in 1893 and today is widely employed [1][2][3]. In order to better underline different biological structures, histological stains are often used to modify or enhance the colors of certain types of these biological structures differently from the others that may be located next to them or be in contact with them.…”

“…Actually, the use of electron microscopy is rare, except for specific contexts or disciplines such as renal pathology. The use of immunohistochemistry, still under development with new antibodies and biomarkers, began in the 1980s and has revolutionized cancer diagnosis [1][2][3]. The histology laboratory experienced several changes in the mid 20th century when cryostats, enclosed tissue processors, plastic cassettes, and disposable knives were introduced.…”

“…The histology laboratory experienced several changes in the mid 20th century when cryostats, enclosed tissue processors, plastic cassettes, and disposable knives were introduced. The emergence of immunohistochemistry in the 1980s was a revolution among the histopathology methods [1][2][3] and made obsolete the necessity for the use of electron microscopy. New techniques include flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), DNA and genetics studies, proteomics, telepathology, and digital imaging.…”

“…Thus, specimen collection, fixation, and processing will need to be consistent between laboratories. In less-developed countries these telepathology techniques and equipment will be of benefit to patients [1][2][3].…”

Stain-free histopathology by programmable supercontinuum pulses

“…First, the histological-histochemical treatment of the tissue, including fixation, embedding, sectioning, and staining, are well known to induce distortion artifacts and loss of some biological components, which dictate the subjectivity of subsequent image-based histopathological observations and interpretations. Second, typical histological processing such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, H&E-stained histology, requires a significant amount of time, from ~10 hours to a few days (less in the case of the frozen-section analysis specifically used in cancer surgery), and thus delays diagnosis, heightens patient stress, and presents a significant economic burden to society 1 . Third, cost ineffectiveness has been intrinsically associated with the more than 4500 labor-intensive histological-histochemical processes and procedures developed between 1841 and 1950 predominantly (95%) 2 .…”