Grossing Manual
Grossing procedures and specimen templates from university and professional manuals.
Educational reference. Follow your laboratory’s approved procedures and supervising pathologist’s guidance. Some links contain specimen photographs.
Breast
Breast15 specimens
Breast Duct Dissection
Breast Implants & Expanders
Breast open biopsy
Breast reduction / reconstruction
Breast reduction for macromastia
Breast tumour resection
Cold Ischemic Procedure for Breast Specimens
Frozen Section Procedure for Breast Cases
Gynecomastia
Lumpectomy / partial mastectomy
- Michigan
Mastectomy — after neoadjuvant treatment
Mastectomy — gender-affirming
Mastectomy — general
Mastectomy — prophylactic
Axillary lymph nodes3 specimens
Axillary / regional lymph node dissection
Breast sentinel lymph node
Breast sentinel lymph node — frozen section
Gastrointestinal
Appendix3 specimens
Appendix — general
Appendix — non-tumor
Appendix — pediatric
Colon & rectum18 specimens
Bowel — Crohn disease
Colectomy templates — benign, inflammatory and tumor
Colon — inflammatory bowel disease
Colon — non-tumor resection
Colon — tumor resection
Colon — ulcerative colitis
Colon / rectum — non-tumor resection
Colon / rectum — tumor resection
Colon for Diverticulitis
Colon, right hemicolectomy
Colorectal polyp
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) Colon
Hemorrhoids
Hirschsprung disease — biopsy / resection guide
Hirschsprung disease — frozen section
Hirschsprung disease — pull-through resection
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Rectum — tumor resection (APR / LAR and other resections)
Esophagus4 specimens
Esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection
Esophagus — malignant resection
Esophagus / gastroesophageal resection — general
Esophagus for Achalasia
Gastrointestinal tract7 specimens
Bowel — non-neoplastic resection, site unspecified
Bowel (trauma)
Gastroenterology Overview
Gastrointestinal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
Gastrointestinal mucosal / endoscopic biopsy
Intraoperative Protocol of GI Specimens Containing Tattoo Sites
Pediatric Benign Bowel Conditions
Hernia sac1 specimens
Ostomy1 specimens
Peritoneum & omentum3 specimens
Cytoreduction / HIPEC
Omentum — gastrointestinal tumor specimens
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Small intestine3 specimens
Small intestine — general resection
Small intestine — non-tumor resection
Small intestine — tumor resection
Small intestine & colon1 specimens
Stomach8 specimens
Bariatric Surgery Specimens
Stomach — general gastrectomy
Stomach — GIST resection
Stomach — non-neoplastic resection
Stomach — partial non-tumor resection
Stomach — prophylactic gastrectomy
Stomach — tumor / gene-mutation gastrectomy
Stomach — tumor resection
Hepatobiliary & pancreas
Bile duct & liver1 specimens
Liver resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Gallbladder3 specimens
Gallbladder — general cholecystectomy
Gallbladder — non-tumor
Gallbladder — tumor
Liver12 specimens
Donor Liver Biopsy
Liver — core biopsy
Liver — explant / transplant
Liver — intrahepatic tumor resection
Liver — partial hepatectomy
Liver — total hepatectomy, non-tumor
Liver — total hepatectomy, tumor
Liver — wedge biopsy
Liver biopsy — general
Liver resections and explants — combined guide
Liver Tumor
Pediatrics Liver Explant for Biliary Atresia
Pancreas4 specimens
Pancreas — distal pancreatectomy
Pancreas — general resection guide
Pancreas — Whipple resection
Pancreatic biopsy
Genitourinary
Bladder7 specimens
Bladder — cystectomy / cystoprostatectomy
Bladder — partial / radical cystectomy templates
Bladder — radical cystectomy / cystoprostatectomy
Bladder — transurethral resection (TURBT)
Bladder resection — general
Urachal Resection
Urothelial Carcinoma
Foreskin & hernia sac1 specimens
Gonads1 specimens
Kidney15 specimens
Infarcted Renal Cell Carcinoma Grossing Procedure
Kidney — non-neoplastic nephrectomy
Kidney — partial and radical nephrectomy templates
Kidney — partial nephrectomy for tumor
Kidney — partial nephrectomy, general
Kidney — pediatric benign nephrectomy
Kidney — pediatric tumor specimens
Kidney — radical nephrectomy for tumor, adult
Kidney — radical nephrectomy, non-tumor
Kidney — radical nephrectomy, pediatric
Kidney — tumor nephrectomy
Kidney — Wilms tumor
Kidney (trauma)
Kidney biopsy
Morcellated Nephrectomy
Paratesticular tissue1 specimens
Spermatocele/Hydrocele Specimens
Penis3 specimens
Penis — general specimen guide
Penis — penectomy, general
Penis — radical penectomy
Prostate6 specimens
Prostate — core biopsy
Prostate — general guide / template
Prostate — transurethral resection (TURP)
Prostatectomy — general
Prostatectomy — whole-mount preparation
- Michigan
- Template: Michigan — Prostatectomy — whole-mount preparation — Whole Mount Prostate Grossing Template · PDF (opens in a new tab)
- Guide: Michigan — Prostatectomy — whole-mount preparation — Whole Mount Radical Prostatectomy Grossing · Word (opens in a new tab)
- Slides: Michigan — Prostatectomy — whole-mount preparation — Whole Mount Radical Prostatectomy Grossing Power Point · PDF (opens in a new tab)
Prostatectomy for BPH
Testis3 specimens
Testis — general orchiectomy
Testis — tumor
Undescended Testicle
Ureter & kidney1 specimens
Ureter & urethra3 specimens
Ureter margin (separately submitted)
Ureter/Urethra
Ureteropelvic Junction Specimens
Urethra1 specimens
Urinary tract, prostate & testis1 specimens
Vas deferens1 specimens
Gynecologic
Cervix3 specimens
Cervix — cone biopsy / LEEP / LLETZ
Cervix — endocervical curettage / biopsy
Radical Trachelectomy
Cervix, vagina & vulva1 specimens
Cervical / Vaginal / Vulvar Biopsies
Endometrium1 specimens
Endometrium — curettage / biopsy
Fallopian tube6 specimens
Fallopian tube — carcinoma
Fallopian tube — general guide
Fallopian tube — non-tumor
Fallopian tube — risk-reducing resection
Fallopian tube — sterilization
Salpingectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy templates
Gynecologic specimens2 specimens
Omentum1 specimens
Ovary5 specimens
Ovary — benign specimens
Ovary — borderline / malignant specimens
Ovary — cyst / teratoma / mass templates
Ovary — neoplastic specimens, unspecified behavior
Ovary, Intraoperative
Ovary & fallopian tube1 specimens
Ovary / fallopian tube — benign setting
Ovary, fallopian tube & peritoneum1 specimens
Ovary / fallopian tube / peritoneum — malignant setting
Uterus13 specimens
Hysterectomy for CIN
Myomectomy
Uterus — benign and malignant hysterectomy templates
Uterus — benign hysterectomy
Uterus — endometrial / myometrial malignancy
Uterus — endometrial carcinoma
Uterus — endometrial carcinoma / EIN
Uterus — endometrial hyperplasia
Uterus — sarcoma
Uterus — tumor, unspecified type
Uterus, BRCA
Uterus, Intraoperative
Uterus, Lynch Syndrome
Uterus & cervix2 specimens
Uterus — cervical invasive cancer hysterectomy
Uterus — radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer
Vulva1 specimens
Vulva — resection / vulvectomy
Obstetric & perinatal
Fallopian tube1 specimens
Fallopian tube — ectopic pregnancy
Fetus3 specimens
Fetal examination
Fetus / embryo examination
X-Ray Procedure for Fetal Skeletal Abnormalities
Perinatal autopsy1 specimens
Placenta6 specimens
Chain of Custody Procedure for Placenta or Fetal tissue For DNA Analysis
Placenta — fetal autopsy context
Placenta — general template (gestation unspecified)
Placenta — singleton gestation
Placenta — TTTS injection study
Placenta — twin / multiple gestation
Products of conception2 specimens
Products of conception — D&C
Products of conception — general
Uterus1 specimens
Uterus — postpartum hysterectomy
Uterus & placenta2 specimens
Uterus with placenta — accreta / percreta
Uterus with placenta — combined specimen
Head & neck
Ear & temporal bone1 specimens
Eye6 specimens
Cornea
Descemet's Membrane
Eye — biopsy / local excision
Eye — enucleation / globe
Eye — general ophthalmic specimens
Medpor Explant
Eyelid1 specimens
Larynx2 specimens
Larynx — microlaryngoscopic biopsy
Larynx — resection / laryngectomy
Mandible & maxilla2 specimens
Mandible resection
Maxilla resection
Neck lymph nodes2 specimens
Neck lymph node dissection
Sentinel Lymph Nodes for H&N Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Oral cavity & teeth1 specimens
Head and neck small biopsies and teeth
Oral cavity & tongue4 specimens
Lip Resection
Mucosal Excisions for Frozen
Oral Biopsies
Oral cavity — mucosal resection
Pharynx1 specimens
Salivary gland2 specimens
Salivary gland — intraoperative consultation
Salivary gland — resection guide
Sinonasal2 specimens
Thyroglossal duct1 specimens
Tonsils & adenoids2 specimens
Endocrine
Adrenal1 specimens
Carotid body1 specimens
Parathyroid2 specimens
Parathyroid — frozen section
Parathyroid gland
Thyroid2 specimens
Thyroid — pediatric
Thyroid — thyroidectomy / general guide
Thoracic
Chest wall1 specimens
Lung16 specimens
Lung
Lung — childhood interstitial disease biopsy
Lung — general biopsy
Lung — lobectomy for tumor
Lung — non-neoplastic resection, unspecified extent
Lung — pediatric non-tumor specimen
Lung — pneumonectomy for tumor
Lung — sterile biopsy, one-person workflow
Lung — sterile biopsy, two-person workflow
Lung — tumor resection, unspecified extent
Lung — wedge biopsy, unspecified indication
Lung — wedge resection and lobectomy templates
Lung — wedge resection for tumor
Lung — wedge resection, non-tumor
Lung Explant
Lung For Frozen
Lung & pleura1 specimens
Pleura1 specimens
Thymus1 specimens
Thymus & mediastinum1 specimens
Cardiovascular
Aorta1 specimens
Blood vessels1 specimens
Heart4 specimens
Cardiac Tumor
Heart — endomyocardial biopsy
Heart — explant
Heart — pediatric explant
Heart & vessels1 specimens
Heart valves3 specimens
Heart valves — native
Heart valves — prosthetic
Heart valves — unspecified type
Temporal artery1 specimens
Temporal artery biopsy
Skin
Skin14 specimens
Cysts
Digits for Cutaneous Neoplasms
General Overview of Skin Biopsies
Pediatric Skin Lesions
Skin
Skin — excision, general
Skin — oriented ellipse
Skin — punch biopsy for alopecia
Skin — shave biopsy
Skin — square excision
Skin — standard punch biopsy
Skin — wide local excision
Skin — wide local excision with tissue banking
Skin grossing PPT
Skin lymph nodes2 specimens
Skin — sentinel lymph node for melanoma
Skin — sentinel lymph nodes for cutaneous neoplasms
Bone & soft tissue
Amputations5 specimens
Amputation — general
Amputation templates — digit, revision, above/below knee
Digit / transmetatarsal amputation
Limb amputation — non-tumor
Limb amputation — tumor
Bone & joint16 specimens
Bone — tumor resection
Bone / soft tissue biopsy
Bone / synovium — non-tumor specimens
Bone biopsy
Bone containing Metastatic Tumors
Crystals (gout, pseudogout)
Femoral head / large-joint specimen
Femoral Heads for OA, AVN and Fracture
Joint arthroplasty — general
Orthopedic Hardware
Osteochondroma
Osteochondroma — pediatric
Rib for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Synovium
Total Knee Replacement
Xiphoid Process
Soft tissue5 specimens
Ganglion Cysts
Lipoma
Neurofibroma
Soft tissue — sarcoma
Soft tissue — tumor resection
Spine1 specimens
Hematolymphoid
Bone marrow1 specimens
Lymph nodes6 specimens
Lymph node — diagnostic excision
Lymph node sampling techniques
Lymph nodes — regional dissection
Lymphoma — core biopsy handling
Lymphoma workup — general
Lymphoma workup — pediatric
Neuropathology
Brain & central nervous system8 specimens
Brain — biopsy
Brain — combined biopsy / resection guide
Brain — epilepsy resection, unspecified extent
Brain — temporal lobectomy for epilepsy
Brain — tumor resection
Brain Cutting Basics
CJD Biopsy Procedure
Neuro Intraoperative Consultation
Neuroblastic tumors1 specimens
Peripheral nerve1 specimens
Peripheral nerve biopsy
Skeletal muscle1 specimens
Skeletal muscle biopsy
General techniques
General techniques16 specimens
Bullets
Gross dictation — principles
Gross dictation — sequence
Grossing overview / introduction
Grossing principles and sample descriptions
Margin sampling techniques
Mislabeled/empty container handling
One Legacy donor organ biopsy
Prevention of cross contamination
Prevention of infection
RFS block melting procedure
Special fixatives
Special handling/send outs
Stat specimen handling
Storage of tissue in -70 freezer
Ten commandments of grossing
Macroscopic description1 specimens
Pediatric specimens3 specimens
Cilia Motility
Pediatric Core Biopsies
Pediatric Tumor Protocol
Specimen fixation1 specimens
Specimen handling19 specimens
Core biopsy handling — general
Cutting Techniques
Cytogenetics
Decalcification — general
Decalcifying Bone using RDO
Decalcifying Bone with Cal-Ex
Electron Microscopy
Frozen Section Overview
General Specimen Orientation Tips
Gross Photography
Gross-only specimens
Immunofluorescence
Molecular Testing
Small specimen handling
Snap Freezing
Specimen Inking
Specimens Containing Radioactive Materials
Tissue Banking
UMHS Grossing Safety Procedures
No matching references
Try an organ name, another procedure, or all sources.
Publisher libraries & access notes
University of Chicago (opens in a new tab)
Organ protocols and illustrated specimen guides.
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (opens in a new tab)
Indexed organ protocols. The publisher may require browser verification; live access could not be rechecked.
University of Michigan (opens in a new tab)
Specimen instructions and downloadable cutting templates.
Loma Linda University Pathology (opens in a new tab)
Direct links to the publisher’s specimen documents.
Kurt Schaberg · UC Davis (opens in a new tab)
Organ references within shared template pages. Find the named specimen on the destination page.
American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (opens in a new tab)
Member or approved access required. Public organ-level links are not available.