A Comparison of Frozen and Paraffin Sections in Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

• Published in: Dermatologic surgery Vol. 24; no. 9; pp. 995 - 998
• Main Authors: MASSEY, RALPH A., TOK, JULIDE, STRIPPOLI, BARBRA A., SZABOLCS, MATTHIAS J., SILVERS, DAVID N., ELIEZRL, YEHUDA D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.1998
• Subjects: Biopsy; Dermatofibrosarcoma - pathology; Dermatofibrosarcoma - surgery; Frozen Sections - methods; Humans; Mohs Surgery - methods; Paraffin Embedding - methods; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Specimen Handling
• ISSN: 1076-0512; 1524-4725
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1998.tb04293.x

BACKGROUND. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a tumor with a high local reoccurrence rate. Mohs micrographic surgery offers the highest cure rate. However, differentiating minimal residual tumor from normal skin can be difficult during Mohs surgery. OBJECTIVE. To clarify the problem of determining when a tumor‐free plane had been achieved during Mohs surgery for a DFSP. methods. In two patients with DFSPs, we compared frozen and paraffin‐embedded sections extending from tumor to normal skin, using both H&E and CD34 stains. RESULTS. On frozen, but not paraffin‐embedded, sections scattered dermal spindle cells were seen in normal skin. CONCLUSIONS. Scattered dermal spindle cells in the dermis of normal skin make it difficult to differentiate minimal residual tumor from normal dermis during Mohs surgery. A biopsy of normal skin can be useful as a control in this setting.