Frozen section

Frozen section procedure is a pathology technique used in surgical pathology to perform rapid microscopic analysis of a specimen. It is often used during surgery to guide surgical decisions.

History

The frozen section procedure was first developed in the early 20th century. The technique was initially used in neurosurgery and has since been expanded to many other areas of surgery.

Procedure

The frozen section procedure involves the rapid freezing of the surgical specimen, followed by thin sectioning using a microtome. The sections are then stained and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. The entire process can be completed in as little as 10-20 minutes, allowing for real-time feedback to the surgeon.

Uses

The primary use of the frozen section procedure is to guide surgical decisions. For example, it can be used to determine if a tumor is malignant or benign, or to determine the extent of the disease. It can also be used to ensure that all of the disease has been removed during surgery.

Limitations

While the frozen section procedure is a valuable tool in surgical pathology, it does have some limitations. The quality of the sections can be inferior to those produced by traditional histopathology, and the rapid turnaround time can limit the thoroughness of the examination. Additionally, some types of tissue do not freeze well and are not suitable for frozen section analysis.

See also

• Histopathology
• Surgical pathology
• Microtome
• Pathology