2/10/97


Has anyone had experience staining tissues (breast, etc.) for the presence

of silicone gel at either EM or Light levels? As far as I know, the

silicone does not accept stain but thought I would learn if anyone has had

any experience with such specimens.

Regards, Don Cox, Goldmark Biologicals

goldmrkr@fast.net


Someone, a week or so ago (I deleted the message), asked for info about

staining of silicone in tissue. I happened to come across the following

reference which may be of interest:

Raso D et al. 1994. Light microscopy techniques for the demonstration of

silicone gel. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 118: 984-987.

There also was an accompanying editorial in the same issue by Roggli et

al.

Daniel Luchtel

dluchtel@u.washington.edu


Dear Colleagues -

Several folks have asked for the response to my query about staining

silicone residues in tissue. Thanks so much for all the help and please

excuse my tardiness in getting this out to the members.

Regards, Don Cox

- - - - - - -RESPONSES- - - - -

Someone, a week or so ago (I deleted the message), asked for info about

staining of silicone in tissue. I happened to come across the following

reference which may be of interest:

Raso D et al. 1994. Light microscopy techniques for the demonstration of

silicone gel. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 118: 984-987.

There also was an accompanying editorial in the same issue by Roggli et

al. - Daniel Luchtel <dluchtel@u.washington.edu>

- - - - -

Reply to: RE>Staining Silicone-Containing Tiss

We have been staining breast tissues from silicone implants for the past 5

years. We receive frozen tissue and cut slides for an immunofluorescent panel.

We do IgA, IgM, IgG, C3 and Fibrinogen. The sections are cut at 4 microns and

there have not been any cutting problems.

Carol Ann Bobrowitz <Carol_Bobrowitz.PATHOLOGY@qmail.path.mcw.edu>

Medical College of Wisconsin

- - - - -

Dear Don and Histonetters: There is an excellent reference entitled "

Light Microscopy Techniques for the Demonstration of Silicone Gel" in the

October, 1994 Volume 118 Issue of The Archives of Pathology and Laboratory

Medicine. I had the opportunity to hear the author, Dr. Dominic Raso,

speak on this subject. Bottom line -- Non-koehler, phase contrast and

darkfield illumination greatly enhance detection of silicone gel. He also

mentions a negative staining technique which is a 1 : 1 mixture of

Aqua-mount and black stamp pad ink. Oil red O is not very consistent.

Electron probe microanalysis also confirms the presence of silicon. Also,

sections need to be cut at 10 micron. My own experience with silicone gel

has been that it is highly refractile, not polarizable and no special stain

was needed. If you have difficulties locating the reference, I will be

glad to send you a copy. Linda Jenkins <jlinda@ces.clemson.edu>

MUSC

- - - - -

I once had to look for Si in the breast tissue of a woman who thought

she had been "poisoned" by her implants. I didn't find anything in

the breast tissue itself.

Almost forgot..... I did this with EDAX in the SEM, looking at a

section cut onto a plastic (Thermanox) coverslip, dried and carbon

coated. My explanation would be a bit fuller but I'm in the middle of

a conference. As I remember, a few relevant papers came up when I did

a lit. search using keywords like breast, silicon, etc.

Get back to me if you want more, I'll be freer next week.

Stephen Edgar

Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Department

School of Medicine

University of Auckland

email address: s.edgar@auckland.ac.nz


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