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Evaluating the Impact of Frozen Section Analysis in Surgery for Ovarian Neoplasms

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Abstract

Objective

Frozen section is a valuable diagnostic tool that can identify the nature of the ovarian lesions intra-operatively thus helping to select appropriate surgery for the patient. In the present study, we are analyzing the accuracy of frozen section in diagnosing benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian tumors and the impact of change which frozen section diagnosis made on planned surgery.

Methods

Frozen section diagnosis and final histopathology reports of 178 patients operated between January 2010 and August 2014 were compared. Accuracy of the frozen section and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in diagnosing benign, malignant, and borderline lesions were analyzed. The impact on surgery was calculated by assessing the percentage of patients in whom the surgical management deviated from the planned procedure based on frozen section results.

Results

Frozen section reports showed an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.7 %. The sensitivity and specificity in predicting benign, borderline, and malignant tumors were 99, 72.7, and 89 %, and 86.8, 98.8, and 100 %, respectively. Accuracy in detecting mucinous tumors was 85.5 %. In 26.9 % of the patients, the surgical management was changed to better suit the patient based on the frozen section result.

Conclusion

Intra-operative frozen section is an accurate diagnostic tool that helped change the planned surgeries in a quarter of patients in whom the examination was sought for.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the support of Ms. Sheejamol V S who helped me with the statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwavidyapeetham, Kerala, India

    Anupama Rajanbabu

  2. Department of Pathology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwavidyapeetham, Kerala, India

    Indu R. Nair & Annie Jojo

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwavidyapeetham, Kerala, India

    Gaurav Goel & Vijaykumar D. K.

Authors
  1. Anupama Rajanbabu
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  2. Indu R. Nair
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  3. Gaurav Goel
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  4. Annie Jojo
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  5. Vijaykumar D. K.
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Correspondence to Anupama Rajanbabu.

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Rajanbabu, A., Nair, I.R., Goel, G. et al. Evaluating the Impact of Frozen Section Analysis in Surgery for Ovarian Neoplasms. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 13, 7 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-015-0007-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-015-0007-3

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