Which histopathological technique is specifically used to visualize lipids in tissue?

The technique that is specifically used to visualize lipids in tissue is Oil Red O staining. This method is particularly effective because Oil Red O is a lipid-soluble dye that selectively binds to neutral lipids and lipoproteins, giving a clear visual representation of lipid-containing structures within tissue sections. This staining technique is commonly employed in pathological evaluations, especially to identify conditions such as steatosis (fatty change) in liver tissue and to assess the presence of lipid-laden macrophages in various diseases.

Masson's trichrome stain is primarily utilized for distinguishing muscle, collagen, and fibrin in tissues, while the Gram stain is vital for differentiating between types of bacteria based on their cell wall properties. Giemsa stain is mainly used in cytogenetics and hematology for identifying blood smears and evaluating cellular morphology. These techniques are not designed for lipid visualization, which further emphasizes why Oil Red O is the appropriate choice for this specific purpose.