title: The meaning and significance of tissue margins.
abstract: The treating surgeon should be aware of the various methods of grossly sectioning and microscopically examining tissue. For tumors that are life threatening or difficult to cure, one should request careful examination of as much of the cut surgical margins as feasible. Whatever is done with the tissue, the physician should communicate adequately with the pathologist so that each will be aware of the other's limitations and what is actually being provided for the patient. Proper understanding of the terms cut surgical margins and pathologic margins and their general noncongruence will help to dispel confusion and lend credence to more carefully constructed studies in the future.
authors.affiliation: UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery