DNA extraction and PCR amplificationfrom paraffin wax embedded bone tu-mour specimens present several difficul-ties, firstly, because of the abundantmatrix they contain and, secondly, be-cause decalcification often causes degra-dation of DNA. In this report, compara-tive studies were carried out to determinethe most efficient method for DNA extrac-tion and PCR amplification from suchspecimens. The results indicated thatnested PCR produced appropriate strongreaction products with minimal back-ground contamination. A method forDNA extraction from paraffin wax em-bedded bone tissue and a nested PCR-SSCP technique have been developed foruse in such diagnostic specimens.(γ Clin Pathol: Mol Pathol 1996; 49: M176-M178)