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PubMed1991

Evidence for expression of the C3d receptor of Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo obtained by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy.

The complement conversion product C3d binds to a receptor on the cell surface of Candida albicans. While the function of this receptor is still uncertain, we investigated whether it is expressed during a murine infection. Rabbit antiserum raised against purified receptor was used in conjunction with immunofluorescence microscopy and immunocolloidal gold electron microscopy to examine kidney tissue and peritoneal lavages from infected mice for receptor expression by C. albicans in vivo. Specificity of the antiserum was indicated by reactivity with purified receptor (55 to 60 kDa) and with a protein of similar molecular mass from whole hyphal extracts in Western blots (immunoblots). In vitro analysis by immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the antiserum reacted with both yeast and pseudohyphal forms of the organism, but reactivity was strongest with pseudohyphae. Immunocolloidal gold electron microscopy of fungal cells from peritoneal lavages revealed intense staining of mother cells of germinative forms, germ tubes, and pseudohyphae. Staining of the mother cells was heaviest at the innermost layers of the cell wall but only scant on the cell surface. In contrast, staining was observed throughout the cell walls of germ tubes and pseudohyphae. In kidney, expression of the C3d receptor was found primarily on the cell walls of hyphae and pseudohyphae, although some staining was observed in the cytoplasm. These data support that the C3d receptor of C. albicans is expressed in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Granular layer in the periplasmic space of gram-positive bacteria and fine structures of Enterococcus gallinarum and Streptococcus gordonii septa revealed by cryo-electron microscopy of vitreous sections.

High-resolution structural information on optimally preserved bacterial cells can be obtained with cryo-electron microscopy of vitreous sections. With the help of this technique, the existence of a periplasmic space between the plasma membrane and the thick peptidoglycan layer of the gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus was recently shown. This raises questions about the mode of polymerization of peptidoglycan. In the present study, we report the structure of the cell envelope of three gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis, Streptococcus gordonii, and Enterococcus gallinarum). In the three cases, a previously undescribed granular layer adjacent to the plasma membrane is found in the periplasmic space. In order to better understand how nascent peptidoglycan is incorporated into the mature peptidoglycan, we investigated cellular regions known to represent the sites of cell wall production. Each of these sites possesses a specific structure. We propose a hypothetic model of peptidoglycan polymerization that accommodates these differences: peptidoglycan precursors could be exported from the cytoplasm to the periplasmic space, where they could diffuse until they would interact with the interface between the granular layer and the thick peptidoglycan layer. They could then polymerize with mature peptidoglycan. We report cytoplasmic structures at the E. gallinarum septum that could be interpreted as cytoskeletal elements driving cell division (FtsZ ring). Although immunoelectron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy studies have demonstrated the septal and cytoplasmic localization of FtsZ, direct visualization of in situ FtsZ filaments has not been obtained in any electron microscopy study of fixed and dehydrated bacteria.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of direct and indirect enzyme immunoassays with direct ultracentrifugation before electron microscopy for detection of rotaviruses.

A direct and an indirect enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were evaluated against a standard of electron microscopy after direct ultracentrifugation of the specimen for their performances in detecting rotaviruses. The indirect EIA had variable background activity which influenced test specificity. The indirect EIA control (test system without the detector antibody) plus a regression line (which reflected background noise) improved test specificity. However, the results of direct EIA (Rotazyme; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.) sensitivity (86%) and specificity (96%) were better than those of the indirect EIA in tests on 73 rotavirus-positive and 78 rotavirus-negative specimens. Endpoint titrations of purified SA-11 rotavirus showed greater sensitivity of the direct EIA test. Electron microscopy, performed after direct ultracentrifugation, and direct EIA were approximately 2 log10 more sensitive in the detection of purified SA-11 rotavirus than was electron microscopy with standard methods of unconcentrated specimen preparation. Direct EIA test are potentially sensitive, specific, and practical for the rapid detection of rotaviruses from human clinical specimens. Further studies are needed before EIA methods for detection of human rotaviruses can be equated with the level of reliability of results obtainable with sensitive electron microscopy techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Rapid serotyping of human rotavirus strains by solid-phase immune electron microscopy.

Nine cell culture-adapted, as well as 30 clinical, human rotavirus (HRV) strains from fecal extracts of children with primary HRV infection were typed by rapid solid-phase immune electron microscopy with protein A and absorbed DS-1 (HRV serotype 2), Wa (serotype 1), and VA70 (assumed serotype 3) rabbit immune sera. As a reference typing test for cell culture-adapted strains, the neutralization assay was used, whereas for noncultivatable strains typing was done for comparison, indirectly, based upon the differential neutralization reactivity of convalescent-phase serum samples from patients with primary HRV infection versus the three reference HRV serotypes. Typing results by solid-phase immune electron microscopy for all strains examined were in complete agreement with those obtained by the neutralization assay, both on cell culture-adapted strains with the three reference rabbit antisera and on three reference HRV strains with human convalescent-phase serum samples. Since adaptation to growth in cell cultures of clinical HRV strains from stool specimens is a time-consuming procedure and is often unsuccessful, solid-phase immune electron microscopy is preferred over the neutralization assay, giving results in about 16 h and also allowing typing of HRV strains from stool specimens low in virus particles. In addition, HRV strains reacting differently from the three reference serotypes may be easily selected by solid-phase immune electron microscopy for further characterization, as was the case for one strain in this study.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1975

Evaluation of a microscopy method for rapid detection and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

A microscopy test that used the typical shape of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells growing on glass was investigated for its value for diagnostic purposes. Suspensions from 108 throat swabs were infected artificially with 102, 103, and 104 colony-forming units of three M. pneumoniae strains per ml. Agar medium, a diphasic medium, and the microscopy method with liquid medium in cover slip chambers were compared for isolation of the mycoplasmas. The mycoplasms were detected first by the microscopy method in nearly all concentrations tested. Typical M. pneumoniae cells could often be detected after 48 h. No differences were found between a laboratory strain and two low-passage strains. The experimental results suggest that under special circumstances the microscopy method could be a useful tool for isolation and identification of M. pneumoniae.

Agar↗
PubMed1984

Scanning electron microscopy of bacteria adherent to intravascular catheters.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the morphological features of coagulase-negative staphylococci adherent to polyvinylchloride intravascular catheter specimens. Clinical specimens were obtained by using patient catheters from which coagulase-negative staphylococci (greater than or equal to 15 colonies per catheter) grew on semiquantitative blood agar roll cultures. In vitro specimens were prepared by a previously published technique in which sterile polyvinylchloride catheters were immersed in 10(6) CFU of coagulase-negative staphylococci per ml suspended in phosphate-buffered saline. Unused sterile polyvinylchloride catheters were also examined. Scanning electron microscopy of unused sterile polyvinylchloride catheters demonstrated multiple linear surface irregularities. Scanning electron microscopy of infected patient catheters showed a diffuse amorphous material covering the entire surface and the presence of bacteria which appeared anchored to that surface by several different means. These included a slime layer, "foot" processes, and lodgement in surface irregularities. Scanning electron microscopy of in vitro specimens demonstrated no background surface coating, but it did show attachment of cocci to the surface by the same mechanisms as described for clinical specimens. These observations of similar means of attachment in clinical and in vitro specimens suggest that intrinsic catheter surface properties, bacterial surface features, and perhaps coating with host substances may all play a role in bacterial attachment to intravascular catheters. More sophisticated analysis of these interactions may clarify mechanisms of pathogenesis.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of a new rapid test (TestPack Rotavirus) with standard enzyme immunoassay and electron microscopy for the detection of rotavirus in symptomatic hospitalized children.

We compared a new, rapid, qualitative test for rotavirus (TestPack Rotavirus; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.) with another enzyme immunoassay (Pathfinder Rotavirus; Kallestad Laboratories, Inc., Austin, Tex.) and electron microscopy to determine its clinical utility in a population of symptomatic hospitalized children. In the first part of the study, 100 frozen stool samples were tested. The results after resolution with a blocking reagent showed a sensitivity of only 50% and a specificity of 88% for TestPack Rotavirus. In the second part of the study, we tested TestPack Rotavirus on 100 fresh, unfrozen samples. The results (sensitivity/specificity) were as follows: TestPack Rotavirus, 95/90%; Pathfinder Rotavirus, 84/98%; direct electron microscopy, 63/100%. Although it was not as sensitive or specific as immune electron microscopy, TestPack Rotavirus was more sensitive than direct electron microscopy or Kallestad Pathfinder Rotavirus. TestPack Rotavirus represents a rapid, qualitative method for the detection of rotavirus in stools of symptomatic children.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Improving sensitivity of direct microscopy for detection of acid-fast bacilli in sputum: use of chitin in mucus digestion.

In order to try to improve the results of direct smear microscopy, we used the mucus-digesting quality of chitin in tuberculosis (TB) laboratories. For this purpose, a total of 430 sputum specimens were processed by the N-acetyl-L-cysteine concentration, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) liquefaction, chitin sedimentation, and direct microscopy methods. Then, the smear sensitivity for acid-fast bacillus detection by chitin-treated sputum was compared with the sensitivity of smears prepared by other methods. Our results showed that the chitin solution took less time to completely homogenize the mucoid sputum than did the N-acetyl-L-cysteine and NaOCl methods. The N-acetyl-L-cysteine concentration method demonstrated sensitivity and specificity levels of 83 and 97%, respectively. In comparison, the sensitivity of chitin sedimentation was 80%, with a specificity of 96.7%. The NaOCl liquefaction method showed a sensitivity of 78%, with a specificity of 96%. Finally, the sensitivity of direct microscopy was lower than those of the other tested methods and was only 46%, with a specificity of 90%. The chitin and NaOCl liquefaction methods are both easy to perform, and they do not require additional equipment (centrifuges). Also, our results demonstrated that the chitin method is less time-consuming than the NaOCl method, since only 30 min of incubation is required to bring complete sedimentation of bacilli in chitin-treated sputum whereas the NaOCl method needs 10 to 12 h to give the same results in the same sputum specimens. Therefore, the chitin liquefaction and sedimentation method may provide better results in TB laboratories of developing countries than the N-acetyl-L-cysteine concentration, NaOCl overnight sedimentation, and direct smear microscopy methods.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed2004

A digital atlas of breast histopathology: an application of web based virtual microscopy.

AIMS: To develop an educationally useful atlas of breast histopathology, using advanced web based virtual microscopy technology. METHODS: By using a robotic microscope and software adopted and modified from the aerial and satellite imaging industry, a virtual microscopy system was developed that allows fully automated slide scanning and image distribution via the internet. More than 150 slides were scanned at high resolution with an oil immersion x 40 objective (numerical aperture, 1.3) and archived on an image server residing in a high speed university network. RESULTS: A publicly available website was constructed, http://www.webmicroscope.net/breastatlas, which features a comprehensive virtual slide atlas of breast histopathology according to the World Health Organisation 2003 classification. Users can view any part of an entire specimen at any magnification within a standard web browser. The virtual slides are supplemented with concise textual descriptions, but can also be viewed without diagnostic information for self assessment of histopathology skills. CONCLUSIONS: Using the technology described here, it is feasible to develop clinically and educationally useful virtual microscopy applications. Web based virtual microscopy will probably become widely used at all levels in pathology teaching.

Breast↗
PubMed1972

The role of fibrin deposition in diabetic glomerulosclerosis: a light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopy study.

The possible role of fibrin deposition in the development of diabetic glomerulosclerosis has been investigated by light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy examination of renal tissue obtained by percutaneous biopsy from seven diabetic patients having minimal clinical evidence of renal involvement and at necropsy on nine diabetic patients. Although the biopsy specimens showed only early to moderate diffuse glomerulosclerosis without either nodular or exudative lesions, approximately 70% of glomeruli examined showed specific fluorescence for fibrinogen in a discontinuous linear pattern along the capillary basement membrane and diffusely in the mesangium. Moreover the immunofluorescence findings correlated well with the distribution patterns of material thought to be fibrin both in the light microscopy studies, by virtue of its staining properties, and by electron microscopy, because of periodicity, texture, and electron density. It is suggested that electron-dense granular deposits seen on electron microscopy may represent intermediate compounds in the fibrinogen to fibrin conversion, and that endothelial and mesangial trapping of fibrinogen or other macromolecules may initiate or accelerate mesangial enlargement, nodule formation, and irregularity of the basement membrane.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The acetic acid test in evaluation of subclinical genital papillomavirus infection: a comparative study on penoscopy, histopathology, virology and scanning electron microscopy findings.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate colposcopic criteria in acetowhite lesions of the penis ("penoscopy") for the diagnosis of subclinical genitoanal papillomavirus infection (GPVI) compared with histopathological criteria of HPV involvement and to various hybridisation assays for HPV DNA detection, and to depict typical lesions by scanning electron microscopy. DESIGN: The study included 101 randomly selected male partners of females with known GPVI, or with penile symptoms such as itching, burning and dyspareunia who did not exhibit overt genital warts but appeared to be afflicted with acetowhite penile lesions after topical application of 5% acqueous acetic acid. Lesions were judged by penoscopy as either typical, conspicuous or nontypical for underlying HPV infection. Biopsy specimens from 91 men were examined by light microscopy and by either Southern blot (SB), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or in situ hybridisation (ISH) assays for the presence of HPV DNA of the HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 42 (Group A). From another ten men lesions clinically typical for GPVI were also examined topographically by scanning electronic microscopy (Group B). SETTING: The STD out-patient clinic of the Department of Dermatovenereology of Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. RESULTS: Group A Seventy eight (86%) of the biopsied lesions met the penoscopy criteria of being either typical of or conspicuous for GVPI. The agreement between penoscopy and histopathology was fairly good, as HPV diagnosis was made by both methods in 56 (62%) of the cases. The reliability of applying strict colposcopic hallmarks was further substantiated by the finding that 55 (60%) of the biopsy specimens taken from penoscopically typical/conspicuous lesions contained HPV DNA. However, there are diagnostic pitfalls for the acetic acid test. Coexistence of an eczematoid reaction with changes indicative of HPV influence was detected in six (7%) of the cases, while an inflammatory response only occurred in 17 (19%) of the specimens. Additional histopathological diagnoses (normal epithelium, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, balanitis circinata parakeratotica, verruca plana) were established in another eight (9%) of the cases. Among the HPV DNA positive cases, all of the HPV types tested for were detected with the exception of HPV 18. A severe penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN III) was revealed in five (5%) of biopsies; HPV 16 was present in two and HPV 42 in one of these biopsy specimens. GROUP B: Scanning electron microscopy depiction harmonised with the penoscopy findings showing that subclinical GPVI characteristically exhibits a well demarcated, slightly elevated border and that the central area of lesions often displays a "groove" in which the epithelium appears to be thin with protrusions from beneath that probably represent capillaries. CONCLUSION: Use of the acetic acid test for evaluation of GPVI should be combined with a colposcopic evaluation based on strict topographic hallmarks, followed by a directed biopsy for light microscopic evaluation. We found that the positive predictive value of colposcopy was as high when correlated with histopathological findings (72%) as when virological methods were used, whether HPV DNA hybridisation testing was performed with the well established SB and ISH assays (45%), or by applying the newly introduced and highly sensitive PCR assay as well (71%). False positivity from the acetic acid test occurs and is mainly due to inflammatory conditions but also to the presence of other conditions. Epithelial fissures are evidently associated with some subclinical GPVI lesions and may potentially represent loci minores for infectious stimuli and perhaps facilitate the transmission of some blood-borne STDs. We prose that the term "papillomavirus balanoposthitis" should be used for penile HPV infection associated with inflammatory responses. Our study indicates that PIN III frequently occurs in a subclinical form and may be associated with not only previously identified "high-risk" HPV types such as type 16, but also with the HPV type 42 that has not previously been considered as oncogenic.

Acetates↗
PubMed1987

Transmission electron microscopy of percutaneous fine needle aspirates from lung: a study of 70 cases.

Seventy consecutive lung fine needle aspirates (FNA) from 69 patients were examined by cytology/cell block histology, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and, where available, at histological follow up to determine the value of TEM in interpreting lung FNAs. Of 70 FNAs, 50 were suitable for TEM. Transmission electron microscopy was helpful in classifying seven of 10 poorly differentiated tumours, and two case histories are reported. In 26 of 30 well differentiated tumours TEM confirmed diagnosis by light microscopy. Two TEM false negatives, but no TEM false positives, were recorded. It is concluded that transmission electron microscopy of cells aspirated from lung can be helpful when unequivocal diagnosis has not been achieved.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Electron microscopy of Golgi-impregnated photoreceptors reveals connections between red and green cones in the turtle retina.

Red and green cones of two turtle species (Pseudemys scripta elegans and Chelydra serpentina) retina have been stained with Golgi procedures and examined by light microscopy of whole-mount tissue and by electron microscopy of serial thin sections. By light microscopy, red and green single cones appear indistinguishable, but double cones can be readily identified. All Golgi-stained photoreceptors in turtle retina have a spray of telodendria radiating from their synaptic pedicles. The telodendria of single cones are 10-20 micron long and end in clusters of terminals, whereas double cones have 30- to 50-micron long telodendria in addition to a very short bush of telodendria arising from one side of the pedicle. Electron microscopy of the Golgi-stained cones allows them to be distinguished into red or green spectral types by the appearance of their oil droplets. Furthermore, the spectral identity of cones contacted by the telodendria of identified Golgi-stained cones can similarly be determined. Red single cones make telodendrial contacts with other red singles, both members of the double cones, and with green single cones. Green single cones likewise connect to many surrounding red cones, both single and double types, and a few other green singles. Both members of the double cone connect to neighboring red and green singles and occasionally to double cones. The telodendria of stained cones end on spectrally homologous or heterologous cone types at basal junctions, central elements of ribbon synapses or, sometimes, as lateral elements of ribbon synapses. However, all these synaptic contacts appear to be of the same type, i.e., narrow-cleft basal junctions. Small gap junctions occur between neighboring cone pedicles, regardless of spectral type, in the visual streak area of the retina. Large gap junctions occur between unidentified cone telodendria in the neuropil of the outer plexiform layer. The telodendrial connections between red and green cones in the turtle retina have the appearance of chemical synapses and suggest an anatomical pathway responsible for the mixing of red and green signals in red or green cones of the turtle retina as reported in the accompanying physiological paper by Normann, Perlman, and Daly (27).

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Experimental trigeminal glycerol injection in dogs: histopathological evaluation by light and electron microscopy.

We investigated the effects of percutaneous gasserian glycerol injection in dogs and reviewed the histopathological changes. Experiments were performed in 16 adult healthy mongrel dogs. In group 1 (8 dogs) normal saline and in group 2 (8 dogs) pure glycerol was injected in the right trigeminal ganglion. After these procedures, dogs in each group were sacrificed after 24 h (3 dogs), 7 days (3 dogs), 21 days (2 dogs). The trigeminal ganglion and nerve of both sides were removed by using microsurgical techniques and examined by light and electron microscopy. Group 1: in all sections, nerve cells, myelinated and nonmyelinated fibers revealed normal patterns with slight fibrosis. Group 2: in all sections, myelinated fibers showed disintegration and swelling of the myelin sheath, rupture of axon continuity, destruction of basal lamina, deformation of the myelin-axon relationship by both light microscopy and electron microscopy. The sections examined by electron microscopy also showed axonolysis in nonmyelinated fibers. The changes after 7 and 21 days were less prominent than after 24 h. In the left sides, there are no pathological changes. Glycerol has a neurolytic effect on the dog's trigeminal ganglion. These effects were not specific and selective for myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Principles of multiphoton microscopy.

Multiphoton fluorescence microscopy is a powerful, important tool in biomedical research that offers low photon toxicity and higher spatial and temporal resolution than other in vivo imaging modalities. The capability to collect images hundreds of micrometers into biological tissues provides an invaluable tool for studying cellular and subcellular processes in the context of tissues and organs in living animals. Multiphoton microscopy is based upon two-photon excitation of fluorescence that occurs only in a sub-femtoliter volume at the focus; by scanning the focus through a sample, 2- and 3-dimensional images can be collected. The complex 3-dimensional organization of the kidney makes it especially appropriate for multiphoton microscopic analysis, which has been used to characterize numerous aspects of renal physiology and pathophysiology in living rats and mice. However, the ability to collect fluorescence images deep into biological tissues raises unique problems not encountered in other forms of optical microscopy, including issues of probe access, and tissue optics. Future improvements in multiphoton fluorescence microscopy will involve optimizing objectives for the unique characteristics of multiphoton fluorescence imaging, improving the speed at which images may be collected and extending the depth to which imaging may be conducted.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Measurement of enamel demineralization using microradiography and confocal microscopy. A correlation study.

Substantial amounts of tooth minerals are lost during dental caries formation. Transversal microradiography, a well-accepted method used to quantify mineral loss, is a time-consuming technique which requires a thin enamel section (100 microns) and involves the use of x-rays. In an attempt to solve these difficulties, a procedure has been developed in which a human tooth specimen with demineralized enamel is cut in half (HT), stained with a fluorescent dye (rhodamine B) and analyzed using a laser scanning confocal microscope. A series of three studies was conducted to correlate measurements of enamel demineralization obtained from enamel thin (100 microns) sections (TS) using transversal microradiography with three parameters (area of the lesion; total and average dye fluorescence intensities) measured on the same TS or on a thicker section (HT) of the same specimen by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Results showed that a 0.1 mM rhodamine B solution provided the most adequate imaging conditions for confocal microscopy. Pearson's correlation coefficients, calculated between microradiography and confocal microscopy data obtained using a 0.1 mM rhodamine B solution, were: delta Z vs. HT lesion area = 0.95; delta Z vs. HT total fluorescence = 0.80; delta Z vs. HT average fluorescence = 0.74; delta Z vs. TS lesion area = 0.95; delta Z vs. TS total fluorescence = 0.74; delta Z vs. TS average fluorescence = 0.55. All these correlations coefficients were statistically significant (p < 0.01). It is concluded that in enamel demineralization studies statistically significant correlations exist between parameters measured using transversal microradiography and parameters quantified using confocal microscopy.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transmission electron microscopy of fine needle aspiration biopsies of metastases. Accuracy of both techniques as established by biopsy diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy in establishing the primary on cytology and on cytologic and electron microscopy examinations using tissue biopsy as the gold standard. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of 96 nonrandomly selected cases of metastases with an unknown primary was carried out. Tissue biopsy was performed subsequently for confirmation. Proper clinical correlation was part of the analysis. RESULTS: The accuracy of cytology in identifying the tumor category (e.g., carcinoma, sarcoma) and tumor type (e.g., adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma) was 76% and 78%, respectively, while that of electron microscopy was 95% and 91%, respectively. The primary site was correctly identified by cytology in 59% and by electron microscopy in 88% of cases, provided that clinical parameters were also considered. CONCLUSION: Electron microscopy is an ancillary technique useful in increasing the accuracy of tumor classification of metastatic neoplasms identified by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic efficacy of endometrial cytology with the Abradul cell sampler supplemented by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic efficacy of endometrial cytology with the Abradul cell sampler and the effect of supplementing it, in cases with overly thick smears, with laser scanning confocal microscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Sampling was performed in 1,684 women. All patients underwent subsequent histology. In eight cases with overly thick smears the original smears were restained to allow confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Efficacy was high, with 1,593 good samples. Thirty-one endometrial carcinomas were signed out as cytologically positive and 10 as atypia. In addition, 10 squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and 1 ovarian carcinoma were diagnosed with this method. Only one case (endocervical adenocarcinoma) was not detected in the sample. In the eight cases in which confocal microscopy was performed, the images were high quality, allowing a correct diagnosis. In addition, the transition from hyperplasia to carcinoma could be visualized in the cytologic smear. CONCLUSION: Endometrial cytology in an outpatient setting is highly effective, and confocal microscopy in selected cases is not only helpful but also highly instructive.

Disposable Equipment↗