How far are we off? Analyzing the accuracy of surgical margin relocation in the head and neck

Miller A, Wang V, Jegede V, Necker F, Curry J, Baik FM, Verma A, Holsinger FC, Tuluc M, Rahman M, Lewis JS, Rosenthal E, Topf MC (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Head and Neck-Journal For the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck Wiley-Blackwell

DOI: 10.1002/hed.27793

Abstract

Background: Positive surgical margin rates remain high in head and neck cancer surgery. Relocation is challenging given the complex, three-dimensional (3D) anatomy. Methods: Prospective, multi-institutional study to determine accuracy of head and neck surgeons and pathologists relocating margins on virtual 3D specimen models using written descriptions from pathology reports. Using 3D models of 10 head and neck surgical specimens, each participant relocated 20 mucosal margins (10 perpendicular, 10 shave). Results: A total of 32 participants, 23 surgeons and 9 pathologists, marked 640 margins. Of the 320 marked perpendicular margins, 49.7% were greater than 1 centimeter from the true margin with a mean relocation error of 10.2 mm. Marked shave margins overlapped with the true margin a mean 54% of the time, with no overlap in 44 of 320 (13.8%) shave margins. Conclusions: Surgical margin relocation is imprecise and challenging even for experienced surgeons and pathologists. New communication technologies are needed.

Involved external institutions

Vanderbilt University US United States (USA) (US) Yale School of Medicine US United States (USA) (US) Temple University US United States (USA) (US) Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals US United States (USA) (US) Stanford University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Miller, A., Wang, V., Jegede, V., Necker, F., Curry, J., Baik, F.M.,... Topf, M.C. (2024). How far are we off? Analyzing the accuracy of surgical margin relocation in the head and neck. Head and Neck-Journal For the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27793

MLA:

Miller, Alexis, et al. "How far are we off? Analyzing the accuracy of surgical margin relocation in the head and neck." Head and Neck-Journal For the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck (2024).

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