A frozen section biopsy, also known as a cryosection, is a laboratory technique used by surgeons to diagnose tissue masses or tumors found during surgeries. This procedure is often performed under general anaesthesia with a full medical team present. Only a small tissue sample is needed for analysis.
This blog will provide a concise overview of why this pathology method is essential and how it benefits doctors in diagnosing and planning surgeries.
During surgery, if a surgeon encounters a suspicious mass or tissue (like in lymph nodes, brain, or thyroid), they can leverage
frozen section pathology
for an immediate diagnosis.
Here's how it works:
After finding the suspicious lump of flesh, a small sample is carefully excised by the surgeon.
The tissue sample is flash-frozen using a cryostat, which rapidly cools it to extremely low temperatures (-15°C to -25°C). This process preserves the tissue structure for microscopic examination.
The frozen tissue is then sliced into very thin sections (cryosections) using a specialized instrument called a microtome. These sections are placed on glass slides and stained with specific dyes to highlight cellular details.
A pathologist examines the stained cryosections under a Frozen Section Slide Scanner to analyze the cellular characteristics and make a diagnosis.
A Frozen section slide scanner allows healthcare professionals to diagnose anomalous scenarios during a surgical operation. The following are few of the applications that help serve as a turning point during such crucial moments:
By analysing the cellular features, the pathologist can determine if a mass is cancerous and, if so, can potentially identify the specific type of cancer. This information is crucial for guiding the surgeon's approach to tumor removal and planning further treatment.
Ensuring complete removal of a tumor is essential to prevent recurrence. Frozen sections help surgeons achieve this by allowing them to check the margins of the excised tissue. The pathologist examines the margins to ensure no cancer cells remain at the edges of the resected area.
Frozen sections can be used to diagnose and differentiate between various types of inflammatory conditions. By analysing the type of immune cells present in the tissue, the pathologist can guide the surgeon in determining the most appropriate treatment course.
In some cases, surgeons may encounter difficulty distinguishing between different tissue types during surgery. Frozen section analysis can help clarify the tissue type, allowing for a more precise surgical approach
The use of frozen section pathology presents several advantages. These factors significantly influence a surgeon's subsequent decisions and the outcome of the operation
Scanners digitize frozen section slides to enable remote viewing for pathologists. This provides an efficient scope of real-time collaboration, providing accurate diagnosis and ensuring the best outcome for the patient.
Frozen Slide Scanners can capture high-resolution digital images that offer superior clarity as compared to traditional microscopy. Ultimately healthcare professionals can benefit from such accurate diagnosis, which is the main highlight of frozen section pathology.
Scanned slides are easily stored in the cloud system. Such convenient access for authorized personnel allows efficient return and archival of the specimens concerned along with sharing information for expert consultation. This way, you can simplify the overall work operations within pathological departments.
Frozen section pathology represents the recent stride made in digital pathology. This new tool equips oncologists and surgeons with precise data to guide their decisions. Once armed with a well-defined plan of action, medical experts can proceed with necessary procedures, aiming for optimal patient outcomes.
OptraSCAN stands out among leading frozen section slide scanner providers, pioneering advancements within the diagnostics department. Using our remote viewing technology, clinicians can access crucial details regarding specimens discovered during surgery and make informed decisions towards potentially saving lives. Contact us for more details on digital slide scanners.
