• Orient and measure (length, width, thickness) the specimen.  Determine the type of procedure (hemiglossectomy, partial glossectomy, total glossectomy) and whether the sulcus terminalis or lingual tonsils are included.
• Measure (two dimensions if flat, three dimensions if raised) and describe tumor (color, configuration/shape, borders, ulceration) and surrounding mucosa (color, fibrosis, ulceration, atrophy, plaque).  Note the location of tumor.  Note the appearance of papillae.  Measure the distance of tumor to the resection margin.
• Ink the resection margin.
• Check with the pathology attending regarding the optimal approach for sectioning each individual specimen.  In general, sections should be taken perpendicular to the margins and/or lateral border if close to or involved by tumor.  Options include:
• Margins:  en face or perpendicular.
• Entire specimen/tumor:  perpendicular to resection margin or perpendicular to lateral border.
• Describe the tumor cut surface (color, necrosis, consistency, infiltration) and measure the depth of invasion.  Re-measure the distance of tumor to the resection margin, based on the cut surface, if appropriate.
• Describe the cut surface of the tongue (color, fibrosis, atrophy).

• Tumor:  minimum of five sections, including area of deepest invasion, lateral border of tongue (if close), resection margin (if close), and adjacent uninvolved tissue.
• Resection margin:  entirely submit (see guidelines above).
• Uninvolved tongue:  two sections (left and right if bilateral).  Additional sections of other lesions if applicable.

Internal use only

Received without fixative/in formalin, labeled _____ and “_____”, is a left/right hemi-/partial/total glossectomy specimen (__ cm length, __ cm width, __ cm thickness).  There is a suture marking the _____ aspect.  There is a __ x __ x __ cm _____ (color, shape, ulceration, borders) _____ (mass, plaque, ulcer) on the left/right upper/lower/lateral surface.  It has a _____ (color, consistency) cut surface and a depth of invasion/thickness of __ cm.  It is located __ cm from the resection margin.  The uninvolved mucosa is _____ (color, ulceration, fibrosis, atrophy, irregularity), and the uninvolved muscle is _____ (color, fibrosis, atrophy).  The resection margin is inked blue = superior and black = inferior.  Representatively submitted as follows:

#__ - #__  = tumor with resection margin, perpendicular

#__ & #__ = tumor and lateral border of tongue

#__ = tumor, deepest point of invasion

#__ = remainder of resection margin, en face

#__ & #__ = uninvolved area

__ blocks, __ H&E