title: The reliability of frozen sections in the evaluation of surgical margins for melanoma.
abstract: As the width of surgical margins declines, histologic evaluation of the margins is needed to assess the completeness of excision of a malignant melanoma. We studied 221 specimens in 59 patients and compared the interpretations of frozen and paraffin sections from the same block. Frozen sections had a sensitivity of 100% in detecting melanoma when present and a specificity of 90%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, University Health Center of Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zitelli
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abell
mesh_terms: D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005355:Fibrosis; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*