Cervical conization with frozen section before planned hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To report our institutional experience with the accuracy and usefulness of cervical conization with frozen section before planned hysterectomy.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-nine patients who planned to have hysterectomies for or with a concomitant diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) underwent preliminary cone biopsies with frozen section. The frozen and permanent pathologic diagnoses were compared retrospectively. Detailed analysis was directed at the indications for cone biopsy and the patients who were found to have invasive cancer.


RESULTS
Among 108 patients with negative specimens or CIN, the frozen section was accurate within one degree of CIN in 106. Cone biopsy for a positive endocervical curettage, unsatisfactory colposcopy, or discrepant cytology did not contribute to the diagnosis of invasive cancer but did lead to an ultimate diagnosis of CIN III. One of 12 women with a frozen-section diagnosis of microinvasion had deeper invasion on permanent sections.


CONCLUSIONS
Frozen-section evaluation of a cone biopsy carries a degree of accuracy that enables the surgeon to make an immediate decision about definitive therapy. Exact indications, use during pregnancy, and accuracy for the diagnosis of microinvasion require further study.
Hoffman
M S
MS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Collins
E
E
Roberts
W S
WS
Fiorica
J V
JV
Gunasekaran
S
S
Cavanagh
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery