SILVER STAINS IN DIAGNOSTIC RENAL PATHOLOGY

Routine light microscopic examination of renal biopsy specimens requir es a battery of stains to allow proper assessment of all renal compart ments. The customary histologic evaluation consists of hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), trichome, and silver stains. Each of these stains is used to address specific questions. There is some o verlap between the information that can be gained from the evaluation of PAS and silver stained sections; therefore, this article will addre ss the theoretical basis for each of these stains and the practical re asons for the need to utilize both PAS and silver stains in diagnostic renal pathology. The overall emphasis of the paper, however, is the u se of silver stains in diagnostic renal pathology.