What are artifacts in tissue samples?

Artifacts in tissue samples refer to distortions or abnormalities that occur as a result of processing or handling errors. These can arise during various steps of tissue preparation, including fixation, embedding, sectioning, staining, and mounting. If these artifacts are present, they can obscure or misrepresent the true histological features of the tissue, leading to challenges in accurate diagnosis and interpretation.

Understanding the nature of artifacts is crucial in histology and pathology, as recognizing them helps pathologists differentiate between genuine tissue characteristics and those that are merely results of technical issues. This knowledge assists in ensuring that the evaluation of specimens is based on true features rather than misinterpretations caused by artifacts.

While the other options may relate to aspects of histological preparations, they do not accurately define artifacts in the context of tissue samples. For instance, normal artifacts of healthy tissues do not exist since artifacts imply some form of distortion or error. Similarly, enhancements in visibility of cellular components are not considered artifacts; they reflect improvements in tissue preparation rather than errors. Lastly, while staining techniques can sometimes lead to changes in the appearance of tissues, referring to them as common effects does not capture the essence of what constitutes an artifact.