A Short History of Histopathology Technique

Abstract The specialty of histopathology technique dates back to 1838, when Johannes Miiller published his book, On the Nature and Structure Characteristics of Cancer, the first book on histopathology. The first compound microscope had been constructed earlier in 1591 but suffered from severe optical problems. In 1673 Anton van Leeuwenhoek started the development of simple microscopes with single lenses but that gave improved magnification and resolution. The first microtome suitable for sectioning animal tissues was constructed in 1848, with the popular Cambridge Rocker (1885), Minot (1886), and sledge microtomes (1910) manufactured later. Paraffin wax for infiltration and support during sectioning was introduced during the mid1800s. Different laboratory chemicals were investigated for use as fixatives. Formalin, widely used today, was first used in 1893. Automated tissue processors replaced hand processing starting in 1945, and cryostats were first manufactured in 1951. Enzyme histochemistry, electron microscopy, and polarizing microscopy all have become diagnostic tools during the last 50 years. The widespread use of immunohistochemistry began in the 1980s has revolutionized cancer diagnosis and is still under development. This article briefly reviews the development of histopathology techniques in the United States and United Kingdom from historical times to present. (The J Histotechnol 29:99, 2006) Submitted December 21, 2005; accepted with revisions March 28, 2006