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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
Use of electron microscopy in core biopsy diagnosis of oncocytic renal tumors
N B Johnson1, M M Johnson, M K Selig
1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Abstract:
The distinction between oncocytoma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, important clinically, may be challenging, especially as the tissue sample size decreases. Ancillary studies can be helpful, although subject to interpretation and sample variability. The aim of this study was to examine the value of electron microscopy in differentiating between oncocytoma and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma on formalin fixed paraffin embedded needle core biopsies. Twenty renal needle core biopsies were evaluated. Despite formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, the classic ultrastructural features of these neoplasms were retained, revealing 80% sensitivity and 100% specificity by initial work-up.
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