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Objectives Frozen section (FS) is a technique widely used intraoperatively to render a preliminary histopathologic diagnosis, allowing for immediate decisions at the time of surgery. We aimed to investigate potential variations in tissue antigenicity induced by rapid freezing in a variety of gynecologic tumor samples. Methods A total of 177 FS and 177 non–frozen section (NFS) tissue slides were tested using a panel of immunostains commonly used in gynecologic pathology, including hormone receptors (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor), HER2, mismatch repair proteins (MSH6, PMS2), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), p53, napsin A, and ɑ-methylacyl coenzyme-A racemase. Immunohistochemistry results were categorized as positive or negative, and positive cases were subsequently scored based on the distribution and intensity of the staining. Certain immunostains, such as HER2, PD-L1, and p53, were scored according to the established guidelines. Results The overall concordance between FS and NFS blocks was 87%; among the 13% of discrepant cases, most (10.7%) were classified as minor, with only quantitative differences without foreseeable clinical significance. In 2.3% of cases, there were major qualitative changes with potential impact on disease management. Conclusions We concluded that FS tissue blocks may, in most cases, safely be used for immunohistochemical studies because most discrepant cases showed only minor differences in staining, with no anticipated clinical significance. Nevertheless, for certain markers, including HER2, p53, and PMS2, a NFS block is preferred when that option is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, discusses the expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in cutaneous sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs, with cutaneous lesions occurring in 30% of individuals. The study evaluated the presence of IL-17A in biopsies of cutaneous sarcoidosis and found that all 26 cases of sarcoidosis stained positively for IL-17A within the granulomatous inflammation in the dermis. IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a role in various autoimmune conditions, and the findings suggest that IL-17A may serve as a key mediator of inflammation in sarcoidosis. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic benefit of anti-IL-17A agents in individuals with sarcoidosis. The study was supported by a research grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. [Extracted from the article]