Evaluation of frozen section in parotid gland surgery

One hundred eight patients underwent primary parotid gland resections at Stanford University Medical Center between 1977 and 1980. Sixty-nine percent of the patients received intraoperative frozen-section diagnosis. Of these, 81% were benign and 19% were malignant. Four patients who received frozen-section diagnosis benefited by further surgery during the initial procedure. Two of four patients who did not receive frozen-section diagnosis could have benefited by further surgery. False-negative results (a malignant tumor called benign on frozen-section diagnosis) occurred in 5%. False-positive results (a benign lesion called malignant on frozen-section diagnosis) did not occur and no unnecessary surgery was performed.