frozen section
Rapid intraoperative histopathological examination of tissue samples to guide immediate surgical decisions.
Full Definition
Frozen section is an urgent histopathological technique performed during surgery to provide rapid tissue diagnosis within 10-20 minutes. The procedure involves quick-freezing a tissue sample, cutting thin sections with a cryostat, and immediate microscopic examination by a pathologist. In gynecologic oncology, frozen sections are commonly used to determine margins of resection, confirm the presence of malignancy, assess lymph nodes for metastases, and guide the extent of surgical intervention. While highly useful for immediate decision-making, frozen section examination has limitations compared to permanent section histology and may require confirmation with final pathological analysis.
Usage
Usage note: Results are provisional pending permanent section confirmation. Specify tissue type examined.
In Context
- "Frozen section confirmed clear surgical margins during the vulvectomy procedure." — Operative report
- "Intraoperative frozen section revealed metastatic carcinoma in the sentinel lymph node." — Pathology consultation