Kerosene as a Potential Substitute for Xylene in Histopathology: A Prospective Comparative Study

Abstract

Aims: We evaluated kerosene as a potential substitute, assessing its clearing efficiency, impact on tissue morphology, staining quality, and diagnostic accuracy. Study Design:  A prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: The Cross-sectional research was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Vinayaka Mission’s KirupanandaVariyar Medical College & Hospitals, Salem - 636308, Tamil Nadu, India over a period of two months (February to March 2025), with a total sample size of 60 tissue specimens. Methodology: This experimental study analyzed 60 tissue samples divided into three groups: xylene (Group 1), xylene–kerosene mix (Group 2), and kerosene alone (Group 3). Routine H&E staining was performed, and histological parameters—sectioning ease, cytoplasmic and nuclear staining quality, cell morphology, and clarity—were evaluated microscopically. Results: Xylene outperformed the other groups across all histological parameters, showing the highest rates of good ribboning (80%), section quality (80%), ease of cutting (75%), and staining clarity and uniformity (70–80%). Kerosene alone yielded the poorest results, with up to 85% poor outcomes in ribboning, sectioning, and staining. The xylene–kerosene mix showed intermediate performance—better than kerosene but inferior to xylene. Conclusion: Xylene remains superior in tissue clearing and staining quality; however, kerosene is a cost-effective and less toxic alternative with acceptable performance. While kerosene showed slightly lower efficiency, tissue morphology and diagnostic accuracy were maintained. A xylene–kerosene mixture offered improved outcomes over kerosene alone.