frozen section
Rapid intraoperative tissue analysis providing immediate microscopic diagnosis to guide surgical decisions.
Full Definition
Frozen section is a rapid histopathological technique performed during surgery to provide immediate microscopic analysis of tissue specimens. The process involves rapidly freezing tissue samples, cutting thin sections with a cryostat, and staining for immediate examination by a pathologist. Results are typically available within 15-20 minutes, allowing surgeons to make real-time decisions about the extent of resection, adequacy of margins, or need for additional procedures. While highly valuable for intraoperative guidance, frozen sections have limitations in accuracy compared to permanent sections due to freezing artifacts and time constraints. This technique is essential in oncological surgery for margin assessment and lymph node evaluation.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate 'frozen-section' when used as an adjective (frozen-section analysis), but not as a noun.
In Context
- "Frozen section analysis confirmed negative margins, allowing for breast-conserving surgery." — Operative report
- "The pathologist was called for frozen section evaluation of the suspicious lymph node." — Surgical note