Fig. 1

Design of the special collection of non-neoplastic breast tissue. After orienting, the lumpectomies were bread-loafed from left to right using one blade for the entire specimen. Non-neoplastic tissue sectioned before the neoplasm was designated “PA Clean”. Non-neoplastic tissue sectioned after the neoplasm was designated “PA Dirty”. The forceps, scalpel, and Petri dish used to cut the neoplasm were referred to as “dirty” tools (red). The forceps, scalpel, and Petri dish that had no contact with the neoplasm were referred to as “clean” tools (blue). During the tissue procurement process, samples collected with “clean” tools and “dirty” tools were designated “TP Clean” and “TP Dirty”, respectively. Except for a section of neoplasm, four samples were collected from each lumpectomy: “PA Clean” and “TP Clean” (Clean/Clean), “PA Clean” and “TP Dirty” (Clean/Dirty), “PA Dirty” and “TP Clean” (Dirty/Clean), “PA Dirty” and “TP Dirty” (Dirty/Dirty). Grossly non-neoplastic tissue fragments that had contact with neoplastic tissue have specs of red which are reflective of theoretical contamination