• Introduction
• Light Microscopy
• Electron Microscopy
• Discussion

Samples for electron microscopy of liver obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy are usually elongate cores with a 1mm to 1.5mm diameter. This specimen size is within the penetration range of glutaraldehyde fixative and should yield well-preserved cells throughout the sample. Our liver biopsy cores are routinely placed immediately into fixative and transported to the laboratory within an hour of the biopsy procedure. We have noted a significant loss of preservation in the center of many liver samples that is apparent at both the light and electron microscope levels. This preservation artifact suggests poor penetration of fixative throughout the core of the sample.

Light Microscopy