Once a tumor is removed, how soon will it be known if the mass is malignant or benign?
During surgery, a section of the tumor is quick-frozen and then examined by the neurosurgeon. This “frozen-section” method gives the doctor some idea of whether the tumor is cancerous or not, but it is not the definitive word. A detailed pathological report may take up to two days or longer if the sample is sent to another laboratory for further examination.
