What Role Do Special Stains Play in Identifying Organ Damage?
Special stains highlight specific components within tissues that are not visible with routine H&E staining. For example: - Masson's Trichrome is used to detect fibrosis by staining collagen fibers. - Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain highlights glycogen and basement membranes, useful in kidney biopsies. - Prussian Blue stain detects iron deposits, important in conditions like hemochromatosis.