title: The many faces of surgical margins.
abstract: Most variables associated with survival after cancer surgery are fixed when we see the patient. One variable over which we have control is the surgical margin. We begin by reviewing the definitions of a positive surgical margin, and then explore potential inaccuracies in obtaining a biopsy and reasons for recurrence after obtaining a free surgical margin. Research in improving the diagnostic accuracy of surgical margins is discussed. Finally, the prognostic significance of surgical margins is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Panorama City, California 91402-5497, USA. padigary@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors; D014481:United States