Difference between revisions of "Marking ink"

From Libre Pathology
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(+credit)
Line 2: Line 2:
'''Marking ink''', also '''ink''', is used during grossing/at [[cut-up]] to mark the [[surgical margin]] and orient specimens unambiguously.
'''Marking ink''', also '''ink''', is used during grossing/at [[cut-up]] to mark the [[surgical margin]] and orient specimens unambiguously.
==Rules of thumb==
==Rules of thumb==
*''Ink before you think''. Ink before cutting. If you apply ink after you've cut into the tumour you are more likely to get stray ink on tumour that isn't the margin.  
*''Ink before you think''. Ink before cutting. If one applies ink after cutting into the tumour one is more likely to get (stray) ink on tumour that is not the margin.  
*Green and blue are the preferred marking ink colours as they are easier to see at the time of embedding.<ref name=Lester3_312>{{Ref Lester3|312}}</ref>
*Green and blue are the preferred marking ink colours as they are easier to see at the time of embedding.<ref name=Lester3_312>{{Ref Lester3|312}}</ref>
*It is good to avoid ''black ink'' in [[skin]] lesions, as it can difficult to discern black marking ink from a pigmented [[melanoma]]. This can be remember by ''b''lack is ''b''ad and ''g''reen is ''g''ood!
*It is good to avoid ''black ink'' in [[skin]] lesions, as it can difficult to discern black marking ink from a pigmented [[melanoma]]. This can be remember by ''b''lack is ''b''ad and ''g''reen is ''g''ood!


==Common conventions==
==Common conventions==

Revision as of 22:07, 11 October 2016

Abdominoperineal resection after marking ink was applied. (WC/Hagemani of Wikia)

Marking ink, also ink, is used during grossing/at cut-up to mark the surgical margin and orient specimens unambiguously.

Rules of thumb

  • Ink before you think. Ink before cutting. If one applies ink after cutting into the tumour one is more likely to get (stray) ink on tumour that is not the margin.
  • Green and blue are the preferred marking ink colours as they are easier to see at the time of embedding.[1]
  • It is good to avoid black ink in skin lesions, as it can difficult to discern black marking ink from a pigmented melanoma. This can be remember by black is bad and green is good!

Common conventions

  • Blue is superior and green is inferior. Why? The sky is blue and the grass is green.
  • Green is right and left is red. Why? Planes and ships have green right and red left.
    • The above can be remembered by sailors that drink port wine with no red port left; red is port.

See also

References

  1. Lester, Susan Carole (2010). Manual of Surgical Pathology (3rd ed.). Saunders. pp. 312. ISBN 978-0-323-06516-0.