Abstract
Crystal-associated arthritis usually connotes either monosodium urate mono-hydrate (MSU) or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals. These twocrystals are easily detected and identified by polarized light microscopy. Lesscommon crystals, such as cholesterol and oxalate, may also be visualized bypolarized light microscopy. Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals, on the otherhand, found in up to 60% of cases of knee osteoarthritis, usually can not beidentified by this technique (1). The failure of polarized light microscopy todetect BCP crystals relates to the very small size of the crystals and the randomorientation of crystals within a crystal mass. In rare cases, BCP crystals may bevisualized with the light microscope as refractile “shiny coins” which representlaminations of crystals in a globular mass (2). Thus, other means have beennecessary to identify BCP crystals.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
