• Breast needle core biopsy is among those specimens most likely to be mishandled and most difficult to verify retrospectively.  In order to avoid such problems, follow the guidelines below:

• Do not process two or more breast biopsy cases consecutively; alternate with other types of specimens.
• Match the number of cores submitted with the number written on the label or requisition form.
• If submitted in > 1 cassette, indicate which cassettes contain cores with microcalcifications shown by radiography, if this information is available.

• State the number of cores.  Measure the specimen (length of each core and average diameter of the cores overall).
• Describe the consistency of cores (such as “fibrofatty” and “fibrofleshy”).
• Avoid drying and distortion of the specimen.
• If carcinoma is suspected, order unstained slides be cut from one block and held in reserve for ER, PR and HER2/neu.

• Submit entirely in a tissue-processing bag.
• Request three levels.

Received without fixative/in formalin, labeled ______ and "____" are ___  fibrofatty/fibrofleshy needle core biopsies measuring ___ cm , ___ cm, and ___ cm in length, respectively, and averaging ___ cm in diameter.  Also received is a radiographic film labeled _____, showing microcalcifications in ___ of  the cores.  The specimen is entirely submitted in cassettes #__  (__ cores) and #__  (__ cores), with the microcalcifications in cassette #__ . 

__ blocks, __ H&E