Diagnostic accuracy of intra-operative frozen section at tertiary care center

Abstract

Introduction: Frozen section is a valuable technique for immediate diagnosis in intraoperative management of patients. It helps the surgeon in the surgical management of the patient by helping in the intraoperative diagnosis of tumors, margins and lymph node assessment, and organ identification. Accuracy and limitation of frozen sections vary according to different anatomical sites. Study objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of frozen sections. Aims: Aim of this study was to analyze the frozen section results and compare it with final paraffin sections and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. Material and methods: A retrospective study of 201 specimens of intra operative FS were carried out in histopathology section of B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad. The diagnoses given on frozen section were compared with the final diagnosis given on permanent paraffin sections. The results were categorized into concordant and discordant. Results: The diagnostic accuracy of frozen section was found to be 86.6%. Discordant rate is 13.4%. Most common frozen section analysis was primary diagnosis or typing of neoplasms (97.5%). Discordant rate or false negative diagnosis was because of technical and interpretative error. Conclusion: Frozen section is a rapid diagnostic process which helps surgeons to choose best therapeutic approach. It confirms various benign and malignant lesions. When unexpected disease process is found and require a definite diagnosis and to take a definite decision on extent of surgery frozen section is very much helpful. However one needs to be aware of its limitations. By avoiding its limitation diagnostic accuracy can be improved.