A practical method for the identification of particulate and crystalline material in paraffin--embedded tissue specimens.

The combination of light microscopy, low temperature micro-incineration of paraffin sections, and subsequent scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with X-ray energy spectroscopy (XES) has been shown to allow rapid and reliable identification of inorganic crystalline and particulate material in body tissues. Applications of this technique to hospital practice are illustrated and its potential in diagnosis and research are suggested.