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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Indirect Immunofluorescence on Frozen Sections of Mouse Mammary Gland
Published on: December 1, 2015
Preparation of frozen sections
Daniel A Davis1, Donna M Pellowski, C William Hanke
1Department of Dermatology, University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-7199, USA. davisdaniela@uams.edu
Background:
For dermatologists the preparation of frozen sections means micrographic surgery. The preparation of frozen sections is meant to be rapid, but has multiple, discrete steps that demand attention to detail.
Objective:
The objective was to summarize both the proven and the cutting-edge techniques of frozen section preparation.
Materials And Methods:
Reports from the medical literature were used to augment techniques used in our practices.
Conclusion:
We dissect each step of micrographic cancer removal, report on the standard and preferred methods of tissue preparation, and summarize the progress achieved in the past decade.
Insights
This study details frozen section preparation techniques for dermatologists performing micrographic surgery. It covers standard and advanced methods for efficient tissue preparation in cancer removal.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Frozen section preparation is a critical, multi-step process in dermatologic micrographic surgery.
- The rapid nature of frozen sectioning demands meticulous attention to detail for accurate results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive summary of established and novel frozen section preparation techniques.
- To enhance the understanding and application of best practices in tissue processing for dermatologists.
Main Methods:
- A review of medical literature was conducted to identify and integrate various techniques.
- Practices were augmented by incorporating findings from published reports.
Main Results:
- Detailed dissection of each step in micrographic cancer removal is presented.
- Standard and preferred methods for tissue preparation are reported.
Conclusions:
- The study summarizes advancements in frozen section preparation over the last decade.
- It offers insights into optimizing techniques for improved outcomes in dermatologic surgery.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Fixation and Sectioning
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...
01:20Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy