Molecular microanalysis of pathological specimens in situ with a laser-Raman microprobe

A laser-Raman microprobe has been used to identify microscopic inclusions of silicone polymer in standard paraffin sections of lymph node. This example of organic chemical microanalysis in situ in pathological tissue represents an extension of microanalytical capabilities from elemental analysis, performed with electron and ion microprobes, to compound-specific molecular microanalysis.