Flash freezing of Mohs micrographic surgery tissue can minimize freeze artifact and speed slide preparation.
Author(s): Erickson QL, Clark T, Larson K, Minsue Chen T
Publication: Dermatol Surg, 2011, Vol. 37, Page 503-9
PubMed ID: 21481069 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
Conclusion of Paper
Studies
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Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine if the morphological quality of skin specimens procured during Mohs micrographic surgery differs when specimens are frozen in a -60 degrees C isopentane bath versus on a -30 degrees C freeze bar-heat extractor within the cryostat. A total of forty-one case-matched specimens were evaluated for morphological preservation by three physicians and the ease and speed of processing by histotechnicians. All specimens were embedded in OCT prior to freezing, and processed immediately after procurement.
Summary of Findings:
The time required for skin specimens to freeze was shorter when they were immersed in isopentane pre-chilled to -60 degrees C with a histobath compared to placement on a cryostat's -30 degrees C freeze bar-heat extractor (22 s versus 144 s, respectively). Histotechnicians noted that for 90% of cases, specimens frozen in pre-chilled isopentane were easier to section and had less tissue loss due to incomplete sections or detachment from the surrounding OCT than specimens frozen within the cryostat. Physicians preferred the isopentane-frozen specimens to case-matched specimens frozen in a cryostat 75% of the time, with the remaining cases displaying equal or reduced quality in comparison to cryostat sections.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- OCT
Diagnoses:
- Not specified
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform Morphology H-and-E microscopy Morphology Macroscopic observation Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Biospecimen Preservation Cooling or freezing method/ rate Cryostat (-20 or -30 degrees C)
Pre-cooled isopentane