Frozen Section - Biopsy

Frozen Section - Biopsy

 What is a Frozen Section Done?

 A frozen section is a rapid intraoperative histopathological technique used to provide an immediate diagnosis during surgery.  It helps surgeons make real-time decisions about the extent of tissue removal, particularly in cancer surgeries.

How is a Frozen Section Done?

1. Tissue Collection: A small tissue sample is taken from the surgical site.
2. Freezing: The tissue is rapidly frozen (-30 to -40 degree celsius) using a cryostat (a special freezing microtome). This preserves the cellular details for microscopic examination.
3. Thin Sectioning: The frozen tissue is cut into thin slices using the cryostat.
4. Staining: The tissue sections are stained using Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) or other rapid stains.
5. Microscopic Examination: The onco-pathologist examines the stained slides under a microscope and provides a preliminary diagnosis within 10-20 minutes.
6. Communication with the Surgeon: The pathologist immediately informs the surgical team about the findings to guide further surgical steps.

Benefits to Cancer Patients During Surgery

1. Determining Tumor Margins

   • Ensures that the entire tumor is removed while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
   • Reduces the need for additional surgeries.

2. Identifying Lymph Node Involvement

   • Helps assess whether cancer has spread to lymph nodes, guiding the extent of lymph node dissection.

3. Confirming Tumor Type

   • Differentiates between benign and malignant tumors, which affects the surgical approach.

4. Evaluating Uncertain Lesions

   • Resolves doubts in cases where preoperative biopsies were inconclusive.

5. Preventing Unnecessary Surgeries

   • If a lesion is benign, extensive surgery may be avoided.

6. Enhancing Surgical Decision-Making

   • Real-time pathology consultation improves precision in cancer surgery.