Methods for obtaining and processing periocular tissues for pathologic diagnosis

Abstract

Pathologic analysis of ophthalmic specimens relies on the input of oculoplastic specialists who are thoroughly familiar with diseases affecting the periocular tissues, therapeutic modalities, and limitations of treatment. The implications of histopathologic findings can only be ascertained when important clinical information, including age, gender, size, location, predominant signs and symptoms, surgical findings, and extent of surgery, is known to the pathologist. These data are usually transmitted to the pathologist by the pathology request form, which should be completed carefully. When warranted by the complexity and importance of the tissue diagnosis, further direct consultation between the oculoplastic surgeon and the pathologist may be warranted to provide for needed special studies, including frozen section diagnoses during surgery.