Gross trimming & dissection must be carried out immediately to show the lesion as far as possible
The specimen should be washed in normal saline only but not with water because washing with water result in haemolysis & it cause discolouration of final mounting media.
Before fixation specimens should be photographed in their natural colour.
Solid organs can be sliced & placed flat on paraffin trays or cork boards & covered with cotton soaked in a formalin based fixative.
Cystic or hollow organs should be stuffed with cotton soaked in formalin to preserve their natural shape.
Segments of intestine should be opened along the anti-mesentric edge &I placed flat on paraffin trays or pinned on cork boards & covered with cotton soaked in formalin