India Ink Stain in Incisional Wound of Soft Tissue Tumor

Abstract

India Ink Stain in Incisional Wound of Soft Tissue Tumor

Damrong Thapanakulsak MD

Chiroj Soorapanth MD, FACS, MMedEd

Department of Orthopedics, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To study the India ink staining characteristics by gross and microscopic pathology in incisional biopsied wound of soft tissue tumor.

Study design: Descriptive study.

Subjects: Ten patients with soft tissue tumor sized > 5 cm., who underwent incisional biopsy for histopathologic examination and had subsequent tumor masses excision at our institute.

Methods: After incisional biopsy and hemostasis of bleeding sites of the tumor, 3-5 ml. of sterilized India ink was installed into the surgical wound up to the skin surface level for one minute. After the ink had stained along the whole width, length, and depth of the wound, the wound was gauzed dried before suturing closure. When the whole tumor mass was excised as surgical treatment, it was submitted for gross and histologic examination, characteristic staining pattern of India ink over incisional biopsied wound, degree of staining, local tissue reaction, and tumor cells contamination over surgical wound were examined.

Main outcome measures: Gross and microscopic pathology of India ink staining.

Results: India ink stains were clearly seen in all incisional biopsy wounds by gross and microscopic pathologic examination. Chronic inflammation with foreign-body granulomatous reaction and tumor cells contamination were evidenced in all cases.

Conclusion: The staining with India ink in incisional biopsy wound of all soft tissue tumors were clearly seen by gross and microscopic pathologic examinations.

Vajira Med J 2008 ; 52 : 243-248