title: Electron microscopy of fine-needle aspiration biopsies of the mediastinum.
abstract: Twenty cases of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of mediastinal tumors with ultrastructural studies of the aspirated material were reviewed. The cases were classified according to the cytologic and ultrastructural diagnosis. A specimen insufficient for ultrastructural study was obtained in five cases (25%). Refinement of the cytologic diagnosis was made in three cases (15%) and good correlation between the initial cytologic impression and the ultrastructural studies was seen in the remaining cases (60%). Comparison of different sites of FNA biopsy revealed a higher rate of ultrastructural examination in the cases involving the mediastinum. Illustrative cases of the use of electron microscopy in FNA biopsies of mediastinal tumors are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858-4394.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Neill
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged