Several histological techniques are employed to assess tumor margins:
Frozen Section Analysis: This involves rapid freezing of the excised tissue, thin-sectioning, and immediate microscopic examination. It allows for intraoperative assessment but may have limitations in resolution and accuracy. Paraffin-embedded Sectioning: This is the gold standard for assessing margins. The tissue is fixed, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained for detailed evaluation. Although more time-consuming, it offers higher resolution. Immunohistochemistry (IHC): IHC can be used to identify specific markers that may indicate the presence of cancer cells at the margins, providing additional diagnostic information.
