Mohs Micrographic Surgery Interpretation of Positive Versus Negative Specimens

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

StatPearls

Abstract

The accurate interpretation of positive and negative margins in Mohs micrographic surgery depends on specialized training in histological evaluation. This process involves the histological interpretation of tangentially processed frozen sections—a method that differs from the traditional vertical sectioning used in general pathology. When interpreting a slide, the initial step of a Mohs surgeon is to identify the tumor. This initial information is usually obtained from a biopsy performed before the surgical procedure. However, the biopsy results may not always be accurate or complete. For instance, a superficial basal cell carcinoma could have an undetected nodular component not identified during the initial histological evaluation.

Certain skin cancers are easier to identify due to their prevalence and recognizable features in patients. In contrast, rare tumors can be more challenging to diagnose and may require special histological stains for accurate margin assessment. Many recurrences of skin cancer are attributed to errors in slide preparation or interpretation.

Publication Date

10-6-2024

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