frozen section
Pronunciation: FROH-zen SEK-shun
Rapid intraoperative tissue preparation technique for immediate microscopic examination during surgery.
Full Definition
A histopathological technique used during neurosurgical procedures to provide rapid diagnosis within 15-20 minutes while the patient remains under anesthesia. The tissue is quickly frozen, sectioned, and stained to allow immediate microscopic evaluation. In neuropathology, frozen sections help surgeons determine tumor margins, confirm the presence of neoplastic tissue, and make critical intraoperative decisions about extent of resection. While faster than permanent sections, frozen sections may have artifacts and limited morphological detail, requiring correlation with final permanent section diagnosis.
Usage
Usage note: Always mention preliminary nature and need for permanent section confirmation in reports.
In Context
- "Frozen section confirmed malignant glioma at the resection margin." — intraoperative consultation
- "The frozen section diagnosis was later confirmed on permanent sections." — pathology correlation