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Histologic Hitchhikers - Artifacts and Mimickers in Mohs Frozen Sections

Lam C, Shamloul N, Samaan C, et al.
Dermatologic Surgery (2024)

JC: November 2024

This study catalogued and characterized histologic artifacts and mimickers encountered during Mohs frozen section interpretation. These 'histologic hitchhikers' include various structures and artifacts that can be confused with tumor, potentially leading to false-positive margin readings and unnecessary additional stages. The study provides a visual reference guide for Mohs surgeons to improve frozen section interpretation accuracy.

Take-Home Messages

  • Common histologic mimickers in Mohs include follicular structures, eccrine glands, and inflammatory infiltrates that can mimic BCC.
  • Awareness of tissue processing artifacts and normal anatomical structures is essential for accurate frozen section interpretation.
  • This visual reference guide can serve as a quality improvement tool for Mohs surgeons and trainees.

Topic

Margin Assessment & IHC

Frozen section interpretation, MART-1, immunohistochemistry stains

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Abstract

Exogenous artifacts can interfere with accurate histologic tissue evaluation on frozen sections during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Mohs surgeons should be aware of these anomalies to avoid potential misdiagnoses. To review exogenous artifacts encountered in frozen tissue pathology during MMS. A literature search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting on exogenous artifacts encountered during MMS and a list of previously described exogenous artifacts was compiled. A retrosp...

Literature review only. This summary is an editorial interpretation and may not reflect the complete findings of the original publication. Always refer to the full-text article for clinical decision-making.