Accuracy of frozen section diagnosis in ovarian masses: experience at a tertiary oncology center

Purpose Accurate frozen section diagnosis is necessary for appropriate surgical management. In this study, we planned to determine the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis in our center and to study the factors which may influence the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Methods In the present study, frozen section diagnosis of adnexal masses in 282 patients was compared with permanent section diagnosis as the gold standard. Results The overall accuracy of frozen section diagnosis was 95.7%. The sensitivity of frozen section diagnosis for benign, borderline and malignant lesions was 99, 60, and 92%, respectively. The tumor size in discrepant cases was larger than the concordant cases, however no association between mucinous histology and inaccurate diagnosis was found. The sensitivities of gross examination and clinical data in distinguishing benign from non-benign lesions were 93 and 70%, respectively. Conclusion Frozen section is a reliable method for surgical management of patients with adnexal masses. Gross examination and clinical data are two valuable parts of intraoperative consultation.