A Frozen Section Service for the Colposcopy Clinic

ABSTRACT

The establishment of a rapid frozen section service for cervical biopsies in the colposcopic clinic is described. Ways of minimising the inherent shortcomings of frozen sections (lack of transparency and contrast) are given, and the positive advantages of easy orientation of the plane of section and the rescue of traumatised biopsies are detailed. The overall information reliably provided by the resulting frozen sections can excel that provided by routinely embedded paraffin sections. The advantages for the patient, gynaecologist, and trainee colposcopists, both individually and in groups, are listed. Reference is made to a previous statistical survey that confirms the safety of the method in comparison with paired paraffin sections.