The application of analytical electron microscopy to the study of diseased biological tissue

SUMMARY A routine method is described for X‐ray microanalysis of thin specimens of biological tissue containing mineral particles in cancerous growths. Such a method allows information to be obtained that relates pathological history to histology, electron microscopy and X‐ray microanalysis. Classification of minerals is possible in a way that is not provided by bulk analysis. The technique provides baselines of elemental data of minerals from various sources that may be used to classify particles found present in certain tumour growths.