How should specimens collected during a Moh's surgery be sent to the lab?

In Mohs surgery, specimens are sent to the laboratory for immediate pathological analysis to ensure that all cancerous cells have been removed before closing the surgical site. The correct method for sending these specimens is to freeze them.

Freezing the specimens allows for rapid processing and allows the pathologist to perform a frozen section analysis. This technique involves slicing the tissue very thinly while it is still frozen, which preserves the cellular architecture and provides quicker pathologic results compared to specimens fixed in formalin.

Using formalin or saline would not be appropriate for Mohs surgery specimens intended for immediate analysis, as these methods do not enable the quick diagnostic procedures required. Additionally, wrapping specimens in gauze is also not suitable because it does not ensure the necessary preservation or transport conditions for the immediate assessment required in Mohs surgery. Thus, freezing is the best practice for sending the specimens to ensure rapid and accurate evaluation.