Use of frozen section analysis in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Frozen section margin verification has been used in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma at our institution for the past 13 years. A review of the last 450 cases has shown frozen section to be most helpful in treating recurrent tumors where microscopic tumor foci extend beyond clinical margins in 45% of cases. Frozen section analysis may be of value in selected patients with primary tumors, but its routine use is not indicated for the majority of these lesions, since complete excision is possible without relying on frozen section in 90% of cases.