Urinary sediment microscopy is a diagnostic technique designed to acquire 2-dimensional images of structures present in a slide. However, 2-dimensional views may lack sufficient contrast to allow for optimal visualization. One way to enhance the images and create…
Identification of crystals and casts by microscopic examination of the urinary sediment is of clinical importance. Specifics about crystals and casts have been previously covered in preceding posts of this blog. Interestingly, crystalline structures can occasionally be embedded…
Microscopic examination of the urinary sediment is essential in the evaluation of glomerular disease. The value of identification of urinary acanthocytes in the diagnosis of glomerular hematuria has been previously reviewed. Similarly, recognition of lipiduria consistent with glomerular…
Microscopic examination of the urinary sediment in the context of hyperbilirubinemia and increased urinary bilirubin excretion requires special attention to the unique chromatic characteristics acquired by the specimens. As serum bilirubin increases, a yellow-tinged urine becomes increasingly noticeable….
Urine acanthocytes are a distinct type of dysmorphic erythrocytes that can be found during microscopic examination of the urinary sediment. Their unique characteristics make them rather pathognomonic of hematuria that originates from a glomerular disease, i.e., glomerular hematuria…
Hyaline casts are traditionally known to lack clinical significance. However, because they are frequently found during urinary sediment microscopy, hyaline casts should be correctly identified and distinguished from other types of casts. They are colorless transparent cylindrical structures…
Most urinary casts have a fairly homogenous aspect throughout their entirety and are clearly classifiable as either hyaline, granular (with all their variants), waxy, or of some cellular nature. However, in many instances urinary casts are not homogenous…
Perhaps that most highly sought finding in urinary sediment microscopy is the presence of granular casts. In clinical grounds, granular casts are typically associated with acute tubular injury (ATI) and guide the differentiation between prerenal and overt tubular…
Waxy casts are found during microscopic examination of the urinary sediment. Like other casts, they are cylindrical structures, but they are distinctly characterized by a high refractive index. Their shape can be straight (Fig. 1A, top cast), convoluted (Fig….
