PROCESSING FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSIES FOR ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - EXPERIENCE IMPLEMENTING A PROCEDURE

While processing needle rinses from fine needle aspiration biopsy mate rial for electron microscopy, we experienced difficulties not fully ou tlined previously. Problems in preservation were traced to the time el apsed before glutaraldehyde was added to the needle rinse, which had b een held in a physiologic transport medium; a tendency toward hypotoni city of the commercially prepared transport medium; and vigorous handl ing of the needle rinse. When these problems were dealt with, preserva tion improved dramatically. The problem of scanty material available f or ultrastructural evaluation was dealt with by decreasing the number of smears made and filtering the needle rinse to capture tissue fragme nts. Implementation of the procedure required leadership, good communi cation, motivated cytotechnologists and cytopathologists, and continuo us supervision and monitoring. In cases with adequately cellular well- preserved material available for electron microscopy, ultrastructural evaluation made a contribution of clinical value to the diagnosis in 4 8% of cases.