Stains & CD markers
Iron
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Iron[title]
Iron
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 June 2005
Last staff update: 18 June 2021
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Iron[title]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Hale colloidal iron | Uses by pathologists | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Pernick N. Iron. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsiron.html. Accessed December 27th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Also called hemosiderin (storage iron granules)
- Perls method (Prussian blue stain): hydrochloric acid releases the protein bound to ferric iron, then potassium ferrocyanide binds with ferric iron to form ferric ferrocyanide, an insoluble blue compound (Wikipedia)
- Hemosiderin may be present in areas of old hemorrhage or be deposited in tissues with iron overload
- Hemosiderosis: stored iron does not interfere with organ function vs. hemochromatosis: iron overload associated with organ failure
Hale colloidal iron
- Kidney tumors: stain must have pH between 1.5 and 2.0
- Clear cell and papillary renal carcinoma have focal, coarse, drop-like staining
- Note: hemosiderin in any tumors will also stain positive
Uses by pathologists
- Hale colloidal iron is helpful in distinguishing chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (intensely positive in large percentage of cells with reticular staining) from oncocytoma (usually negative; if positive - fewer cells with less intensity and dustlike staining)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Hemosiderin, liver, iron stain
SIDS
