Frozen Sections Flashcards
What is the CAP accreditation standard time for a frozen section
20 minutes
What is an intra-operative consultation
while performing surgery a physician may require assistance identifying an unexpected specimen or to confirm that a biopsy margin is negative
Why is frozen sectioning used for enzyme histochemistry
since enzymes are labile and rapidly degrade
Why is frozen sectioning used for immunofluorescent techniques
chemical fixation alters/denatures antigens and aldehyde fixatives may create autofluorescence
Why is frozen sectioning used for lipid stains
tissue processing dissolves fat
What occurs if tissue is frozen too slowly
ice crystals may form that distort tissue morphology and leave large holes
What is the temperature for general cutting purposes
-20C
What is the temperature for open and connective tissues
-25–30C
What is the temperature for highly cellular tissues
-10–15C
What is used to fix frozen sections
formalin or alcohol
What occurs to the tissue after the frozen section is obtained
it is thawed, rinsed and then fixed prior to processing and then a slide is made and compared to the fresh slide
What is chatter
a regular pattern of horazontal lines (venetian blind) caused by the tisse or block being too cold or a loose component in the cryostat
What is shattering
may occur if the cryostat is too colf for the tissue, can use heat from your thumb to warm the surface
What is compression
sections that are smaller than the face of the block occurs when the block is too warm or the blade is too dull
What are lines/scores
vertical lines caused by a defect on the blade or calcified tissue
