The nanopathological diagnostics (ND) is an ultra-specialized branch of pathological anatomy aimed to identify the nanoparticles of metallic, semimetallic, or nonmetallic elements in the inorganic particulate matter present inside pathological tissues, even on the nanometer scale. ND exploits an environmental scanning electron microscope, connected to an X-ray microprobe mounted on an energy-dispersive spectrometer. The searching of nanoparticles can be performed on paraffin-embedded material, omitting emissions of black overlay and plating procedures. The technique is highly sensitive and specific, reproducible and rapid, covering an entire operating cycle in few hours. Nowadays, ND finds many applications: (I) intratumor detection of heavy metals and endocrine metal disruptors; (II) identification of pathogenic nanoparticles in medical or veterinary drugs and devices, cosmetics, household products, and foodstuffs; (III) differential diagnosis of sarcoid-type granulomas (berylliosis, baritosis) and foreign body granulomas (prosthetic, iatrogenic); (IV) attestation of occupational disease correlating the datum with the occupational risk (anthracosis, asbestosis, bauxite fibrosis, byssinosis, chalicosis, siderosis, silicosis, stannosis, talcosis); and (V) forensic investigations to ascertain a causal link between disease and environmental, military, or work exposure. In addition to filling a knowledge gap, ND offers to the pathologist a current research field, with particular reference to the impact of occupational and environmental pollution on the human health and cancer.
Keywords: Cancer; environmental scanning electron microscope; granuloma; health; heavy metals; nanopathology.