Wet SEM: a novel method for rapid diagnosis of brain tumors.
The authors present the application of wet SEM for histopathological assessment, a technology for imaging fully hydrated samples at atmospheric pressure in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Both transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques usually require long and complex sample preparation of the tissues. In marked contrast, a rapid preparation of tissues is described for evaluation by SEM imaging. The wet SEM technology successfully demonstrated both histological and ultrastructural features of several CNS tumors: Rosette formation and intracytoplasmic lumens were observed in ependymoma; numerous fibrillary processes in fibrillary astrocytoma; and focal rosette formation with no intracytoplasmic lumens in medulloblastoma. Application of this method simultaneously with frozen section may improve rapid intraoperative diagnosis of these intracranial tumors.
Barshack
Iris
I
Department of Pathology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. barshack@sheba.health.gov.il
Polak-Charcon
Sylvia
S
Behar
Vered
V
Vainshtein
Anya
A
Zik
Ory
O
Ofek
Efrat
E
Hadani
Moshe
M
Kopolovic
Juri
J
Nass
Dvora
D
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission