Electron microscopy
This article collection stuffs about electron microscopy. It is commonly abbreviated EM.
Ultrastructural findings
Glycogen
General
Seen in:
Ultrastructure
Appearance:
- Cytoplasmic, electron dense, not bound by a membrane.
Tubuloreticular inclusions
Abbreviated TRIs.
General
Seen in:
Ultrastructure
Appearance:
- Undulating tubules in the smooth ER, usu. perinuclear.[1]
Melanosomes
General
Seen in:
Ultrastructure
Appearance:
- Membrane bound, sausage-like shape.
Image(s):
Neurosecretory granules
- AKA dense-core granules.
General
Seen in:
Ultrastructure
Appearance:[3]
- Round membrane bound, granular core.
- Size: 100-400 nm.
Image(s):
Birbeck granules
General
- Seen in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Ultrastructure
Appearance:
- Electron dense, cytoplasmic tennis racket-like body.
Image(s):
- Birbeck granules (photobucket.com).
- Usually... only the handle of the tennis racket is well seen.
Tonofilaments
General
- Found in epithelial cells.
- Part of the cytoskeleton.
Ultrastructure
Feature:
- Filamentous structures at the cell periphery - vaguely resemble striated muscle.
Image(s):
Specific diagnoses
Malignant mesothelioma
Main article: Malignant mesothelioma
Several EM features can be useful to distinguish mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma as per Warhol et al:[4]
- Microvillous length -- longer in mesothelioma.
- Quantity of intermediate filaments -- mesothelioma have more.
See also
References
- ↑ Stoltenburg-Didinger G, Genth E (June 2009). "[Dermatomyositis]" (in German). Z Rheumatol 68 (4): 287–94. doi:10.1007/s00393-008-0398-y. PMID 19330338.
- ↑ Gil-Moreno, A.; Garcia-Jiménez, A.; González-Bosquet, J.; Esteller, M.; Castellví-Vives, J.; Martínez Palones, JM.; Xercavins, J. (Mar 1997). "Merkel cell carcinoma of the vulva.". Gynecol Oncol 64 (3): 526-32. PMID 9062165.
- ↑ URL: http://www.pathologyimagesinc.com/emhandbook/diagn-organelles-section/organelle-pages/neuroendo-granules.html. Accessed on: 11 February 2011.
- ↑ Warhol, MJ.; Hickey, WF.; Corson, JM. (Jun 1982). "Malignant mesothelioma: ultrastructural distinction from adenocarcinoma.". Am J Surg Pathol 6 (4): 307-14. PMID 6287872.