Electron microscopy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens: a brief review.

The cellular sample obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy is usually small and therefore requires extreme care during processing for electron microscopy. The most significant technical problem is due to contamination of the sample by red blood cells, which tend to dilute the samples. Red blood cells in these samples may be removed prior to processing by either using Bovine serum albumin as a gradient or by filtration of the specimen by a nylon sieve. Experience at our institution with the use of electron microscopy for interpretation of fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples is briefly reviewed.