A method of avoiding deformation and providing for a more consistent thickness of a biological tissue sample during preparation for analysis comprising providing a histology processing cassette comprising a box defining a compartment for holding a biological tissue sample, the box having a bottom face comprising a sample support surface and being transmissible to radiation or a flow of fluid through to pass through the cassette, an open top face, and two side walls, a back wall and a front wall, the box having a length and width greater than a standard size histology processing cassette and a depth approximately the same as a standard size histology processing cassette placing the sample in the cassette and treating the sample by contacting it with a processing solution; and contacting the sample with molten paraffin wax and cooling the sample in molten paraffin wax so the sample is embedded in solidified paraffin wax for further processing.