What this test measures
Medium-sized tissue specimens — excisional biopsies of skin / lymph node / breast, wide local excisions of melanoma, partial organ resections (gallbladder, appendix). Gross description (with margin inking), histology, and IHC / molecular as needed.
Why it matters
Medium specimens form the bulk of surgical pathology — breast lumpectomies, melanoma wide excisions, lymph node biopsies, salivary gland resections, soft tissue tumour excisions. Margin assessment is often the key clinical question (re-excision needed?).
How to prepare
Surgical preparation depends on the procedure — typically outpatient or short-stay with local / regional / general anaesthetic. Disclose anticoagulation, allergies.
Markers & reference ranges
Reference ranges below are typical adult values. Your lab's reported range may differ slightly based on the assay platform and patient demographics — always read your report against the range printed on it.
| Marker | Normal range | If low | If high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Histopathology + Margins (Descriptive + margin distance)[1] | Benign + clear margins | Benign with clear margins — routine follow-up. | Malignant — entity, grade, margin status (positive / close / negative with distance), lymphovascular / perineural invasion, IHC (where applicable). Positive / close margins → re-excision. |
Common medium specimens
| Specimen | Key elements |
|---|---|
| Breast lumpectomy | Diagnosis, grade, ER/PR/HER-2, margins, LVI |
| Melanoma wide excision | Breslow, Clark, mitotic rate, margin |
| Lymph node excisional | Architecture, IHC, monoclonality (for lymphoma) |
| Soft tissue tumour | Sarcoma type, grade, margin |
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as Histopath (Medium)?
Yes — same diagnostic standards under a different rate-card name.
Why is margin status important?
Positive / close margins suggest residual tumour and usually warrant re-excision. Margin distance guides need for re-surgery.
How long to report?
Routine 5-10 days. Complex cases needing extensive IHC: 2 weeks.
What is IHC?
Immunohistochemistry — antibodies stain specific proteins (ER/PR/HER-2 for breast; CD markers for lymphoma; PAX-8 for ovarian / renal; etc.) to characterise the tumour.
Related Histopathology / Cytology tests
Tests commonly ordered alongside Histopathology Biopsy: Medium Specimen, or that help interpret an unexpected result.
Sources & references
- Royal College of Pathologists · accessed 2026-05-30T00:00:00.000Z
- CAP — Histopathology Standards · accessed 2026-05-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Indian Association of Pathologists · accessed 2026-05-30T00:00:00.000Z
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