frozen section
An intraoperative histological technique in which tissue is rapidly frozen and sectioned to provide near-immediate pathological assessment during surgery.
Full Definition
Frozen section analysis involves the cryostat sectioning of fresh tissue removed during an operation, allowing the pathologist to deliver a preliminary diagnosis — typically regarding resection margin status, lesion identity, or lymph node involvement — within 10–20 minutes. In pediatric surgery, frozen sections are particularly used during resection of Wilms tumour, teratoma, and hepatoblastoma to assess surgical margins. The technique introduces artefacts (ice crystal formation, poor nuclear detail) that must be noted in reports; a final diagnosis on permanent formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections takes precedence. Editors must recognize that 'frozen section diagnosis' and 'final pathological diagnosis' are distinct and should not be conflated in case reports.
Usage
Usage note: In formal reports, a frozen section finding should be labeled as a 'preliminary diagnosis' to distinguish it from the definitive 'final diagnosis' on permanent sections.
In Context
- "Frozen section of the proximal bowel margin confirmed ganglionic innervation, allowing the surgeon to proceed without further proximal resection." — Intraoperative pathology consultation note
- "The case report clarified that the intraoperative frozen section had suggested a low-grade lesion, but final permanent sections revealed high-grade features." — Pediatric pathology case report