Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) feasibility in 1,450 samples according to the age group, site of biopsy, children’s age range and year of diagnostic test
| Analysis of ciliary ultrastructure by TEM | |||
| Feasible | Unfeasible | Total | |
| Age group | |||
| Child samples | 562 (58.5) | 403 (41.5) | 965 |
| Adult samples | 424 (87.4)* | 61 (12.6) | 485 |
| Site of biopsy | |||
| Nose | 458 (72)# | 178 (28) | 636 |
| Bronchus | 528 (64.8) | 286 (35.2) | 814 |
| Children's age range yrs | |||
| 0–4 | 180 (54) | 153 (46) | 333 |
| 5–9 | 177 (53) | 159 (47) | 336 |
| 10–17 | 205 (69)* | 91 (31) | 296 |
| Year of diagnostic test | |||
| 1985–1989 | 230 (72) | 91 (28) | 321 |
| 1990–1994 | 172 (63) | 101 (37) | 273 |
| 1995–1999 | 294 (69) | 132 (31) | 426 |
| 2000–2006 | 290 (67) | 140 (33) | 430 |
Data are presented as n (%) or n. #: the significant difference disappeared after adjustment for age of patients. *: p<0.05.