Diagnostic accuracy value of intraoperative frozen section for ovarian neoplasms

Background: Accuracy of intraoperative frozen section diagnosis is extremely important in the evaluation of ovarian tumors so that suitable surgical procedures can be chosen. Methods This retrospective diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Hossein Hospital. The case records of patients with ovarian mass who underwent surgery and intraoperatively frozen section assessments between September 2006 and December 2014 were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data, operative details, frozen section and final histopathology Examination (HPE) were reviewed from the medical records. Results one hundred and ninety three patients with ovarian masses undergoing surgery and frozen section were included. The frozen section diagnoses were benign in 155 (80.31%), borderline in 10 (5.18%), and malignant in 28 (14.51%), whereas the final diagnosis was benign in 154 (79.80%), borderline in 9 (4.66%), and malignant in 30 (15.54%). The overall accuracy of intra-operative frozen section diagnosis was 98.9%. The sensitivity for frozen section diagnosis was 100% for benign, 89% for borderline and 93.3% for malignant category, whereas the specificity was 97%, 99%, and 100%, respectively. There were 3 cases with discordance between the frozen section diagnoses and the final diagnoses, all of which were under diagnosed by frozen section. Conclusion Frozen section was found to be accurate and useful in the intraoperative assessment of patients with ovarian neoplasm. The results may help to determine the type and extent of surgery.