The Effect of Formalin Solution On Surgical Margin Distance and Tumor Size in Colonspecimens Resected Because of Sigmoid Colon Cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]Formalin fixation results in decrease in the size of resection materials up to 57% in different tissues. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of formalin fixation on the longitudinal size and tumor size of resected colon tissue because of a sigmoid colon tumor.[¤]METHODS[|]This prospective study was conducted with 40 consecutive sigmoid colon tumor patients who underwent elective resection between January and December 2016. The surgeon conducting the study opened up the specimens within 15 minutes of resection, and the total length of the resected colon, size of the tumor, and proximal and distal surgical margin distances were then measured. The pathologist then recorded the measurements, without applying any stretch.[¤]RESULTS[|]The mean total length, proximal surgical margin distance, distal surgical margin distance, and size of the tumor in the resected material were 32.9 cm, 16.7 cm, 12.1 cm, and 4.8 cm, respectively. Postformalin fixation values were 22.0 cm, 10.6 cm, 7.4 cm, and 4.2 cm, respectively, in the same order (p=0.00 for all).[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]The results of the present study revealed 34% shrinkage in the total size of colon material following fixation. The effect of formalin fixation on shrinkage should be considered in cases where there is an unexpected proximity to surgical margins, as shown by the pathology results.[¤]

Keywords

• colon cancer
• formalin fixation; shrinkage; surgical margin.