Question

Margin refers to what?

a) the borders of the cancerous/ precancerous lesion
b) how deep you need to go to fully excise the lesion
c) the healthy tissue around the lesion that should be excised with the lesion as determined by the literature

Answer 1

The term 'margin' in the treatment of skin cancer refers to c) the healthy tissue around a lesion that is removed with the lesion to ensure complete excision and to prevent cancer recurrence.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of treating skin cancers like melanomas, the term margin refers to the healthy tissue around the lesion that should also be excised along with the lesion itself to ensure complete removal and to reduce the risk of recurrence. The adequate margin size is generally established based on evidence and recommendations found in the medical literature. Margins are essential in surgical oncology because they help to ensure that all the cancerous or precancerous cells are removed during the excision, preventing invasive tumor growth and minimizing the chances of metastasis.