Silicon-containing particles in synovial fluid: scanning electron microscopy coupled with analytical techniques allows an easy identification and differentiation from pathologically relevant crystals.

Silicon-containing particles were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in synovial fluid samples from patients with crystal-induced or inflammatory synovitis, or both. This material was an artefact produced by the technical procedures, but these particles could be easily differentiated from naturally occurring compounds by their morphology and their composition determined by analytical spectrometry.