Table 1.

Summary of different microtomes available for tissue slicing.

Microtome Type	Tissues Optimally Sliced with Specific Microtome	Tissue Thickness	Advantages
Saw microtome	Hard specimens, such as teeth and bones	30 μm or higher
Sledge microtome	Embedded samples	1–60 μm
Rotary microtome	Thin, embedded samples (manual control)	0.5–60 µm
Laser microtome	All types of samples	1 μm or higher
Cryomicrotome	Frozen samples	2–50 μm
Ultramicrotome	Extremely thin tissue slices	20–150 nm	Use with specialty microtomes
Krumdieck microtome (type of rotary microtome)	PCTS	100–500 μm	First microtome to be routinely used for PCTS generation. Best for glioblastoma PCTS
Vibrating microtome(Vibratome)	Fixed and PCTS	Fixed: >10 μm PCTS: 30–1000 μm	-Less pressure and stress to the PCTS than with the Krumdieck microtome -Precise and reproducible. -Better preservation of tissue integrity
Compresstome	Fixed and PCTS	Fixed: >10 μm PCTS: 30–1000 μm	-Milder “compression” of tissue, reduced tissue damage and shearing -No uneven slicing or vibration-related artefacts -5 times faster in tissue slicing than the Vibratome