title: Preoperative margin detection by digital dermoscopy in the traditional surgical excision of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incomplete excision rate is a useful clinical and performance indicator, as it correlates with the treatment, the recurrence rate, the patient's morbidity and mortality. Methods of preoperative assessment of tumoral margins are therefore of paramount importance. Dermoscopy is a simple, non-invasive method, and can also be used for the diagnosis of epithelial tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to assess the preoperative evaluation of margins with digital dermoscopy, and compare it with clinical evaluation; to ameliorate the surgical performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinomas were initially selected for traditional surgical excision. Subsequently, the margin of excision was determined by both clinical (group A, 46 patients) and dermoscopy evaluation (group B, 48 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, margin involvement was observed in eight (17%) patients. Positive margins were seen in three (6%) patients of group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative digital dermoscopy is a better method for detecting tumoral margins than clinical evaluation, and is an effective, simple, non-invasive method for the presurgical evaluation of margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatologic Surgery, Centro Ortopedico di Quadrante Hospital, Omegna (VB), Italy. mauro.carducci@centrocoq.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carducci
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzetti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Marco
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Foscolo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Betti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*