title: Electron microscopy in tumor diagnosis: indications for its use in the immunohistochemical era.
abstract: The electron microscope reveals much more information on tumor cell structure than can be obtained with the light microscope, and some of the data are useful in diagnostic studies. In this review, major contributions of electron microscopy in the main tumor categories are discussed. To select between immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, the probable contributions of each in the context of the particular case must be assessed. Usually, electron microscopy will only be requested after a battery of immunostaining procedures has been performed and found to be insufficient, but there are occasions when ulstrastructural study is logically the first choice after routine light microscopy. It is worth taking tissue for possible electron microscopy from any tumor that is known or anticipated to be a diagnostic problem.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ordóñez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor