kryosektiona

Kryosektiona is a histological technique, commonly referred to in English as cryosection, used to prepare thin tissue sections by rapid freezing for microscopic examination. It is employed when rapid diagnostic information is needed, such as during surgical procedures, as well as in research settings.

The procedure typically involves collecting tissue and embedding it in a cryoprotective medium, such as optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound. The specimen is then mounted in a cryostat and cooled to about −20 to −30 °C. A cryostat microtome cuts frozen sections, usually 5–20 micrometers thick, which are mounted on glass slides and quickly stained with rapid methods (for example, hematoxylin and eosin or other fast stains). The prepared slides are examined by a pathologist to provide an immediate diagnosis or to guide intraoperative decisions.

Advantages of kryosektiona include fast turnaround, preservation of lipids and some enzymatic activities, and the ability to examine unfixed tissue. Limitations include potential freezing artifacts, lower detail compared with paraffin-embedded sections, and reduced suitability for certain immunohistochemical analyses. Quality depends on proper freezing, sectioning technique, and experience with cryosection artifacts such as ice crystal damage and tissue tearing.

Common applications are intraoperative consultation to assess tumor margins or tissue viability, rapid diagnosis in neurosurgery and dermatopathology, and certain research workflows where preserving native biochemical states is important.