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Histologic Margin Status as Predictor of SCC Outcomes (Hoang et al.)

Hoang MP, Karpinski P, Zúñiga-Castillo M, et al.
Dermatologic Surgery (2023)

JC: November 2023

This study analyzed histologic margin status as a predictor of outcomes in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The analysis demonstrated that positive or close margins after excision are significant predictors of local recurrence and adverse outcomes. The findings support the importance of achieving clear surgical margins and provide evidence for re-excision or Mohs surgery when margins are compromised.

Take-Home Messages

  • Positive histologic margins after SCC excision significantly increase the risk of local recurrence.
  • Close margins (<1mm) also carry elevated recurrence risk and may warrant re-excision or Mohs conversion.
  • Complete margin assessment via Mohs surgery eliminates margin status uncertainty in high-risk SCC.

Topic

Margin Assessment & IHC

Frozen section interpretation, MART-1, immunohistochemistry stains

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Literature review only. This summary is an editorial interpretation and may not reflect the complete findings of the original publication. Always refer to the full-text article for clinical decision-making.