This article is part of the supplement: 1st Scientific Meeting of the Head and Neck Optical Diagnostics Society .

Introductory lecture

The surgical resection margin

Ann Sandison

Histopathology Department, Imperial College, London, UK

corresponding author email

Head & Neck Oncology 2009, 1(Suppl 1):I1doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-S1-I1

Published:	28 July 2009

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

In the treatment of cancer the fundamental surgical goal is to remove all local malignant disease and leave no residual malignant cells. Studies have demonstrated the benefit of achieving negative resection margins in terms of disease free local recurrence and overall survival. The surgical margins for Head & Neck cancer may vary widely depending on the site of disease. This variation reflects the biological and anatomical environment of the tumour site at macroscopic and microscopic levels.