Frozen Sections

Overview of Frozen Sections 

Frozen section analysis, also known as intraoperative consultation, is a critical diagnostic tool in pathology used during surgery. AffiPATH Frozen Sections enable rapid diagnosis by allowing pathologists to examine tissues that have been cryopreserved immediately after removal from the patient. This technique is highly valuable in determining the presence of malignancies, margins of excision, and guiding surgical decision-making in real-time.

Technical Procedure of Frozen Section

The frozen section process begins with the rapid freezing of tissue samples using cryostat technology. The steps involved are as follows:

1. Tissue Sampling: Fresh tissue is obtained directly from the operating room. The size and type of tissue sample can vary depending on the suspected pathology. The tissue is placed in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) medium, which protects it during the freezing process.
2. Cryopreservation: The tissue sample is frozen in a cryostat, a specialized machine that maintains temperatures between -20°C and -30°C. Rapid freezing is essential to preserve cellular morphology and prevent ice crystal formation, which could otherwise distort the tissue structure.
3. Sectioning: The frozen tissue is sectioned into very thin slices (typically 5-10 micrometers thick) using a microtome within the cryostat. These sections are then mounted on glass slides for staining and examination.
4. Staining: The frozen tissue sections are quickly stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), providing contrast between cellular structures. Additional special stains or immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be employed in certain cases to further highlight specific tissue components.

Clinical Applications of Frozen Sections AffiPATH

AffiPATH Frozen Sections are widely used in various clinical scenarios:

• Oncologic Surgery: Determining whether surgical margins are clear of cancer cells is one of the most common uses. This is particularly important in procedures such as mastectomy, prostatectomy, and resection of soft tissue tumors.
• Transplant Surgery: In renal or liver transplants, frozen sections are utilized to assess donor organ quality and confirm the absence of malignancy or significant pathology in the transplanted tissue.
• Neurological Surgery: Frozen sections guide neurosurgeons by providing immediate feedback on brain tissue, helping to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions during surgery.
• Dermatologic Surgery: In Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer, frozen sections are used to examine the excised tissue layer by layer, ensuring complete tumor removal with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Frozen section analysis is an indispensable tool in surgical pathology, offering rapid, intraoperative diagnostic information that can influence critical decisions during surgery. AffiPATH Frozen Sections provide the technological infrastructure and precision needed for real-time pathology evaluation, ensuring that surgeons have the information they need to achieve optimal outcomes for patients.