Advances in Low-Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy in Renal Pathological Diagnosis and Research

Owing to its operational simplicity, low cost, and strong adaptability to a wide range of samples, low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) has gradually become an indispensable tool in renal ultrastructural pathology. This article reviews the diverse applications of LVSEM in renal pathological diagnosis and research, including broad-area assessment of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) surface architecture, analysis of crystal composition, and localization of immune complexes. The findings indicate that LVSEM holds significant diagnostic value in glomerular diseases, hereditary nephropathies, tubulointerstitial lesions, and kidney transplant pathology. LVSEM not only is an effective complement to traditional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) but also, through its large depth of field and capacity for surface-relief imaging, supports broader-area, quantitative, and multimodal ultrastructural analysis, with broad prospects for clinical application and research.