title: Accuracy of intraoperative frozen-section analysis of axillary nodes. Edinburgh Breast Unit team.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraoperative assessment of axillary lymph node involvement would allow selection of patients who would benefit from axillary lymph node dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients undergoing mastectomy or wide excision had four nodes sampled and sent for frozen-section examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frozen-section analysis of the nodes was correct in 81 of the 88 patients but missed seven of the 26 patients who had involved nodes on paraffin section (sensitivity 73 per cent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frozen-section analysis of axillary lymph nodes as currently practised cannot be recommended for routine use although it may have a role in specific groups of patients.
authors: Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, UK.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Dixon
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Mamman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity