Comparison of reflection contrast microscopy and electron microscopy on the histopathological diagnosis of various kidney diseases.

Our aim in this study was to compare reflection contrast microscopy (RCM) with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand whether RCM could be used in the histopathological diagnosis of various kidney diseases as a less expensive and an easier alternative to TEM. The diagnoses of kidney pathologic lesions included Alport syndrome, thin membrane disease, Ig A nephropathy. RCM is a form of light microscope that works in the reflected mode, suitable to observe ultrathin (50–100 nm) plastic sections that is also used in TEM. Our findings showed that RCM showed similar results compared with TEM on these lesions described earlier. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.