Frozen Tissue Section

Container/Tube: Sterile container without fixative or preservative
Specimen Volume: Tissue
Forms: Frozen Tissue Request Card
Collection Instructions: 1. Label container with patient’s name (first and last) and date and actual time of collection.  2. Notify histology technician that specimen has been brought to Surgical Pathology Laboratory. 

Note:
1. Bone or heavily calcified tissue and fixed tissues cannot be frozen. Tissues dominated by fat are technically difficult and may or may not be amenable to frozen section. Certain tissues demand cytologic as well as histologic evaluation for a proper diagnosis and are, therefore, best examined on permanent section only. These include cone biopsies of the cervix, lymph nodes when lymphoma is suspected, pigmented skin lesions, endometrial and endocervical curettings, etc.
2. Tissue is consumed in the process of frozen section. Tiny critical specimens (for example, possible breast carcinomas <5 mm in diameter and endoscopic and needle biopsies) sometimes are best not risked. The freezing process may distort lymphoid tissues; therefore, for suspected lymphoma, it is advisable to await proper fixation of lymph node and permanent section diagnosis.
3. Cultures of tissue are best taken in operating room, where a sterile field exists. A piece of tissue (eg, a curetting of a fistulous tract) should be placed in an anaerobic tube with requests for: smear, culture, anaerobic culture, acid-fast bacilli cultures, and fungus culture. If surgeon wishes pathologist to culture tissue for him, bring fresh sterile specimen, place in hands of pathologist (never leave unattended), and bring extra labels. If unusual or difficult problems are anticipated before the time of surgery, prior verbal communication with a pathologist can be extremely beneficial and is strongly encouraged.