False-negative rate of intraoperative frozen section margin analysis for complex head and neck nonmelanoma skin cancer excisions.
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative frozen section analysis (IFSA) is traditionally performed for complex and high-risk non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) resections, particularly when surgery under a general anaesthetic and a complex reconstruction is required, and where Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is not available.


METHODS
A retrospective audit of 253 cases between 1999 and 2009 was undertaken, investigating the accuracy and efficacy of IFSA for the treatment of NMSC in our tertiary skin tumour unit based in a university hospital setting.


RESULTS
The combined incomplete and very narrow (<1 mm) excision margin rates were 28.7% and 27.5% for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Unrepresentative sampling of the excision margins intraoperatively was the overwhelming cause of error (94%).


CONCLUSIONS
After a thorough audit of our data, IFSA has been abandoned for the treatment of NMSC in our unit. MMS is practised intraoperatively, even in advanced cases. We believe that IFSA no longer has any role in our complex, multidisciplinary skin cancer practice.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Norfolk and Norwich Skin Tumour Unit, Norfolk, UK.|Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
M D
MD
Moncrieff
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Norfolk and Norwich Skin Tumour Unit, Norfolk, UK.
A K
AK
Shah
Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.|Department of Cellular Pathology, The Norfolk and Norwich Skin Tumour Unit, Norfolk, UK.
L
L
Igali
Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.|Department of Dermatology, Norfolk and Norwich Skin Tumour Unit, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
J J
JJ
Garioch
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D054869:Clinical Audit; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections / Q000592:standards*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery