"A Practical Guide to Frozen Section Technique" offers an easy to learn approach to frozen section technique in the form of a highly illustrated handbook intended for onsite use in the laboratory. The book begins with a novel, clearly delineated, step by step approach to learning continuous motion brush technique. Emphasis is placed on recognizing and correcting artifacts during the preparation process. The book addresses all of the steps in the preparation of slides from cutting through cover-slipping. The author's unique, original techniques for tissue embedding including face down embedding in steel well bars, frozen block cryoembedding and paper cryoembedding are detailed.Variables key to the quality of the preparation including block temperature, tissue properties and section thickness are detailed. The book also covers understanding the cryostat and basic maintenance and care. Sections covering techniques used in Mohs dermatologic surgery, and techniques used in basic animal and human research are discussed by noted experts in their field. "A Practical Guide to Frozen Section Technique" will be of great value to pathologists, pathology residents in training and also experimental pathology researchers that rely upon this methodology to perform tissue analysis in research.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter 1 Continuous motion frozen section brush technique. Topics discussed include: The cryostat; the brush; the blade; body position; holding the brush; turning the wheel; movement of the brush; trimming the block; Orientation and x-y axis: rotating the block: advancing the tissue; retrieving the tissue; teaching continuous motion technique through a "hand off". Chapter 2 Embedding Techniques Chapter 3 Fixation Properties of various fixatives; effects of delayed fixation and drying artifacts are illustrated. Chapter 4 Staining and Coverslipping This chapter covers simple methods for slide fixation, staining and coverslipping the finished slide. Chapter 5 Is this a good section? Variables affecting the sectioning properties of the tissue The cutting properties of the different tissue types are described and the changes in sectioning properties with varying temperature and section thickness. Artifacts resulting from cryostat and blade related problems are addressed. Graphic displays of artifacts produced and solutions to avoid them are detailed. Suggestions for dealing with fatty tissues are described. Freezing artifacts are described. Chapter 6 Tissue grossing and Cytologic Preparations This chapter discusses grossing and ancillary cytologic techniques in the frozen section room with emphasis on maximizing our diagnostic yield through careful gross examination and sampling. Chapter 7 Techniques used in Mohs Micrographic Surgery Author: Barbara S. Beck, HT (ASCP) Vice President American Society for Mohs Histotechnology This chapter will provide detailed descriptions of techniques used in Mohs surgery by a highly experienced and respected authority in the field. Chapter 8 Techniques Used in Research settings. Author: Charles W. Scouten, PhD.