title: Intraoperative consultation of central nervous system lesions. Frozen section, cytology or both?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Frozen section is the traditional method of assessing central nervous system (CNS) lesions intraoperatively. Our aim is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section and/or cytological evaluation of CNS lesions in our center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 157 patients with CNS lesions underwent open surgical biopsy or excision in our center during a period of 2 years (2012-2013). All specimens were studied cytologically; of these specimens, 146 cases were also examined by frozen section. Cytology and frozen section slides were studied separately by two general pathologists who were blind to final diagnoses. The final diagnoses were based on permanent sections and IHC studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The accuracy rates of frozen section analysis and cytological evaluation were 87% and 86%, respectively. If the two methods were considered together, the accuracy rate improved to about 95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytological evaluation is an acceptable alternative to frozen section analysis and also a great supplement to the diagnosis of CNS lesions.
authors: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: ali.haidari.sharifabadi@gmail.com.
authors: Ali Haidari
authors: AH
authors: Sharifabadi
authors: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: haerihay@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Hayedeh
authors: H
authors: Haeri
authors: Neurosurgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: m.zeinalizade@gmail.com.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Zeinalizadeh
authors: Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: nedazargari62@yahoo.com.
authors: Neda
authors: N
authors: Zargari
authors: Iran National Tumor Bank, Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: razavinader@gmail.com.
authors: Amirnader Emami
authors: AE
authors: Razavi
authors: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: shahbaziiiiii@yahoo.com.
authors: Nargess
authors: N
authors: Shahbazi
authors: Neurosurgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: malahatiran@yahoo.com.
authors: Malahat
authors: M
authors: Tahvildari
authors: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14197-33141, Iran. Electronic address: azmoudeh@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors: Farid
authors: F
authors: Azmoudeh-Ardalan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Central nervous system; Cytology; Frozen section; Intraoperative diagnosis; Tumor