ASSESSING THE DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF FROZEN SECTION REPORTING: A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON WITH HISTOPATHOLOGY
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Abstract
Background: The diagnostic accuracy of frozen section analysis is of paramount importance in surgical pathology, serving both in the management of surgical patients and as a quality control measure. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of frozen sections over an 18-month period at a teaching hospital in Bareilly, India.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on frozen sections performed at the Pathology Department of Rohilkhand Medical College And Hospital, Bareilly, UP, India, from January 2024 to June 2025. The results were compared with permanent sections to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the frozen section test. Cases with discrepancies were re-evaluated to identify the underlying causes of the differences.
Results: A total of 186 frozen section specimens were analyzed. Of these, 171 cases (92%) were concordant with the permanent diagnoses, while 15 cases (8%) were not. The specimens primarily originated from the oral mucosa, breast, ovary, and lymph nodes. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the frozen section compared to the permanent section (considered the gold standard) were 90.9%, 94.2%, 97.56%, and 80.32%, respectively. Among the 15 discordant diagnoses, seven (46.6%) were attributed to sampling errors, and eight (53.3%) were due to interpretative errors.
Conclusion: Frozen section analysis is a reliable and precise diagnostic tool that can be trusted in surgical management. The findings of this study also indicate that the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis at our institution is consistent with internationally published rates.
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Mehnaz Munawar
MBBS, Postgraduate student, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mithila Bisht
Professor, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anu Jhanji
MD Pathology, Assistant Professor, Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nitesh Mohan
MD Pathology, Professor and Head of Department, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kriti Grover
MD Pathology, Assistant Professor, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shradha Sinha
MBBS, Postgraduate student, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Saumya Mishra
MBBS, Postgraduate student, General Pathology, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.