Current Utilization of Electron Microscopy in the Pediatric Pathology Setting: A Survey by the SPP Practice Committee

Abstract

Background: Electron microscopy (EM), once an important component in diagnosing pediatric diseases, has experienced a decline in its use. To assess the impact of this, pediatric pathology practices were surveyed regarding EM services. Methods: The Society of Pediatric Pathology Practice Committee surveyed 113 society members from 74 hospitals. Settings included 36 academic tertiary, 32 free-standing children’s, and 6 community hospitals. Results: Over 60% maintained in-house EM services and had more than 2 pathologists interpreting EM while reporting a shortage of EM technologists. Freestanding children’s hospitals had the most specimens (100-200 per year) and more diverse specimen types. Hospitals with fewer than 50 yearly specimens often used reference laboratories. Seventeen had terminated all in-house EM services. Challenges included decreasing caseloads due to alternative diagnostic methods, high operating costs, and shortages of EM technologists and EM-proficient pathologists. Kidney, liver, cilia, heart, and muscle biopsies most often required EM. Lung/bronchoalveolar lavage, tumor, skin, gastrointestinal, nerve, platelet, and autopsy samples less commonly needed EM. Conclusions: The survey revealed challenges in maintaining EM services but demonstrated its sustained value in pediatric pathology. Pediatric pathologists may need to address the centralization of services and training to preserve EM diagnostic proficiency among pathologists who perform ultrastructural interpretations.