Confirm that sufficient diagnostic tissue has been obtained Often during intraoperative consultation a generic diagnosis will be sufficient for the neurosurgeon to make a
decision concerning the extent of resection based on the clinical and neuroimaging features. Neurosurgeons are
aware of the limitations imposed on pathologists at the time of intraoperative consultation, namely small sample
size and freezing artifact. The main role of the pathologist is to confirm that adequate, diagnostic, nonnecrotic
tissue samples have been obtained. A more specific diagnosis can be rendered after examination of
permanent sections. Unlike surgical pathology, margin status has less importance in neuropathology
because most tumors are infiltrative and a “negative margin” does not ensure against tumor recurrence.