Identification of microcrystals in synovial fluids by combined scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction : application to triclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate.

We report a method for studying microcrystals which combines scanning electron microscopy, electron-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Application of all three techniques to the same crystalline bodies permits correlation of their three-dimensional morphology at high magnification with unambiguous identification by means of their crystallographic properties. The method was applied to triclinic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate.