Light and electron microscopic examination of embedded fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens in the preoperative diagnosis of soft tissue and bone tumors.

Abstract

A technique is described for the light- and electron microscopic examination of fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens in the preoperative diagnosis of soft tissue tumors and bone tumors. The results obtained after studies on 18 soft tissue tumors, five bone tumors, and three metastatic carcinomas, thought to be primary soft tissue tumors, indicate important advantages to be obtained by using this method compared to conventional aspiration cytology: (1) it gives a very well preserved cellular morphology as seen both light and electron microscopically; (2) the preserved tissue structure and growth pattern is of importance for the diagnosis in many soft tissue and bone tumors; (3) some conventional histologic stainings can be applied giving additional information and an appearance familiar to the surgical pathologist; (4) the specimens can be saved in blocks and new sections made whenever necessary; and (5) the opportunity of studying the material under the electron microscope often helps to confirm a suggested diagnosis and may be necessary in some cases in order to arrive at a definite diagnosis.