Fourier transform infrared microscopy identification of crystal deposits in tissues: clinical importance in various pathologies.

The presence of crystal deposits in tissues is associated with various pathologies. Sometimes their identification is useful for understanding the etiology or the mechanism of the disorder. The authors applied Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIRM) to the molecular characterization of crystal deposits in tissue and compared the results with those provided by histologic studies using polarized light microscope and histochemical reactions.