Lumpectomy with intraoperative frozen section analysis?

ElleDee

I'm looking for people who have gone the lumpectomy route for DCIS and have had your surgery at a place that does intraoperative frozen section analysis. That's when they freeze the specimen and examine it while you are still in surgery in order to increase the chance of getting clean margins the first time.

I've seen studies that suggest it significantly reduces the need for multiple surgeries. I've also seen experienced surgeons say it doesn't really work.

I'm trying to determine whether it's worth postponing surgery (by a month and a half, which makes me really nervous) in order to have it done in a place that offers this option.

Moderators

Hi again ElleDee,

You may find this article from the main Breastcancer.org site helpful: Guideline for Lumpectomy Margins for DCIS Issued

Let us know how else we can help!

--The Mods

Emily21

Hi, I'm a medical scientist who preforms frozen sections. The practise is common in all large hospitals for all surgeries where a rapid answer is required. A small piece of tissue is removed, sent fresh from theatre to the lab, frozen in liquid nitrogen, sectioned on a cryostat stained with haematoxylin and rosin, and examined under the microscope for the presence of malignant cells. Results are usually available in 20 minutes.

Emily21

It is useful in situations where the patient can have further nodes or tissue removed while under sedation. The downside is only a small piece of tissue is taken, preservation of tissue architecture isn't as good as formalin fixed tissue. It is a procedure that was very common over the last 50yrs is becoming less used, o don't know why, could be a staffing issue.

ElleDee

Thank you very much!