Field emission scanning electron microscopy a powerful diagnostic tool for kidney stone disease ?
Such a diagnostic tool would represent a significant benefit to the clinician.In view of the increase in infection-related stones over the past two decades, Urinary Track Infection must always be considered a significant possible cause of urolithogenesis. In a recent publication, We note the presence of bacterial imprints for kidney stones with a high, but sometimes a low content, of Wk. Thus, we propose FE-SEM as a diagnostic tool for stone patients who have a negative urine culture associated with kidney stones containing less than 20% by weight Wk, a low level of carbonate in apatite, and no struvite.
https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/item/10.5802/crchim.80.pdf
The use of SEM is certainly beneficial for the study of the kidney stones. FE SEM is a better variant of classical SEM. FE SEM provides even greater possibilities if it allows work at variable pressure and if the instrument is equipped with at least an EDS analyzer. Observations in backscattered electrons usually provide more information than in secondary ones. Absolutely best is to combine work on FE SEM/EDS with powder X-ray diffraction analysis.
I agree with you for the interest of diffraction. In fact, we have used PND in the case of cystine stones to evaluate the role of drugs. There is some limitation regarding XRD like the measurment of the level of carbonate in apatite which may indicate infection. That's why FTIR spectroscopy constitutes the golden standard which is use at the hospital routinely
Agree that SEM can be used as diagnostic tool for stone patients. XDR some cases supports the SEM data for mixed stones.
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