Utility and Accuracy of Frozen Section Examination for Uterine Tumors- A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Intraoperative frozen sections (IFS) play a vital role in guiding surgical
procedures, especially in gynaecological oncology. The rapid diagnosis provided by
frozen sections allows surgeons to make real time decisions during surgery, which can
significantly impact patient outcomes. It is a demanding task for pathologists, requiring
keen observation skills and the ability to make quick yet accurate assessments. The
information gleaned from frozen sections helps surgeons determine the extent of the
surgery needed and whether further interventions such as lymph node dissection, are
necessary. This approach enables a more precise and tailored treatment plan for each
patient, improving overall care and potentially reducing the need for additional
surgeries. Objectives: To compare the results of intraoperative frozen section
examination with the final histopathology report and assess its accuracy in diagnosing
uterine tumors. Methods: After Institutional Ethics Committee approval, a cross
sectional study was carried out on 10 frozen section specimens of uterine origin. Later
histopathological evaluation was done. Both frozen section diagnosis and
histopathological diagnosis were compared to find out the accuracy of frozen section
examination. Results: Fromthe10 cases studied on frozen section, 5 cases were
diagnosed as Endometrial adenocarcinoma. Others included 1 of Low grade
endometrial stromal sarcoma, 1 of Smooth muscle tumour of uncertain malignant
potential (STUMP) and 3 cases of Cellular leiomyoma. The diagnosis given on frozen
section matched the final histopathological diagnosis in all the cases. Conclusion: We
found that frozen section diagnosis in uterine tumors were accurate in all the cases we
studied, because it matched the diagnosis given on subsequent histopathology. Hence
frozen section can be a useful tool for intraoperative diagnosis of uterine tumors.