HTL Histopathology & Diagnostic Techniques 5

Question 1

Psammoma bodies — laminated calcific concentric rings — are classically associated with which tumor type?

Accepted Answer

Papillary thyroid carcinoma

Answer

Psammoma bodies are concentric calcifications found in papillary thyroid carcinoma, papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary, and meningiomas.

Question 2

The TUNEL assay performed on tissue sections specifically detects:

Accepted Answer

DNA fragmentation indicative of apoptosis

Answer

TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) detects fragmented DNA at the 3′-OH ends of double-strand breaks, a hallmark of apoptosis.

Question 3

In liver pathology, which stain is used to evaluate fibrosis and cirrhosis by highlighting collagen?

Accepted Answer

Masson's trichrome or Sirius red

Answer

Masson's trichrome and Sirius red both stain collagen and are routinely used to stage hepatic fibrosis in liver biopsy specimens.

Question 4

Which artifact is caused by carry-over of tissue fragments from one block to another during sectioning and staining?

Accepted Answer

Floater (tissue contamination artifact)

Answer

Floaters are extraneous tissue fragments that contaminate a section from another case, potentially causing diagnostic errors.

Question 5

What is the purpose of heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) before immunohistochemical staining?

Accepted Answer

To unmask antigens cross-linked by formalin fixation

Answer

Formalin fixation creates methylene bridges that mask epitopes; HIER uses heat and a retrieval buffer to break these cross-links and restore antigen immunoreactivity.

(HTL) Histotechnology Certification Practice Test

(HTL) Histotechnology Certification Practice Test

HTL Histopathology & Diagnostic Techniques 5