Pleomorphic microvilli and low-grade human urothelial cancer: need to correlate diagnostic modalities

It is technically feasible to examine human urothelial biopsy specimens by light microscopy after the same specimen has been examined by scanning electron microscopy. This combined microscopic procedure demonstrates that surface microfeatures of human urothelial cells, including pleomorphic microvilli, are variably present in atypical and in malignant vesical tissues. Scanning electron microscopy of a urothelial specimen requires direct light microscopic correlation of the pathologic disorder which is present in a particular area of the specimen which has been examined by scanning electron microscopy.