Thoracoscopic Localization Techniques for Patients With Solitary Pulmonary Nodule and History of Malignancy

Frozen section of lung specimens

CONTEXT

Frozen section of lung tissue is performed to guide the surgeon in subsequent therapy.

DESIGN

Practical experience in frozen section of the lung was reviewed in the medical literature and from the records of several academic hospitals.

RESULTS

Most frozen sections of the lung are performed for evaluation of a solitary nodule, a mass, or the surgical margins of a resection. Frozen section may also be used to assess the adequacy of a lung wedge biopsy taken for later diagnosis of a condition.

CONCLUSION

The pathologic evaluation of intraoperative pulmonary lesions is indicated for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and masses, both neoplastic and nonneoplastic, surgical resection margins, and mediastinal lymph nodes. The most worrisome pitfalls involve differentiating benign reactive atypia from malignancy on frozen section.