title: Surgical margins in head and neck cancer: a contemporary review.
abstract: Adequate resection margins are critical to the treatment decisions and prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, there are numerous controversies regarding reporting and interpretation of the status of resection margins. Fundamental issues relating to the basic definition of margin adequacy, uniform reporting standards for margins, optimal method of specimen dissection, and the role of intraoperative frozen section evaluation, all require further clarification and standardization. Future horizons for margin surveillance offer the possible use of novel methods such as "molecular margins" and contact microscopic endoscopy, However, the limitations of these approaches need to be understood. The goal of this review was to evaluate these issues to define a more rational, standardized approach for achieving resection margin adequacy for patients with HNSCC undergoing curative resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hinni
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferlito
authors.forename: Margaret S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brandwein-Gensler
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Takes
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Westra
authors.forename: Raja R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Seethala
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strojan
authors.forename: Kenneth O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Devaney
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gnepp
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: Luiz P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck