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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Intraoperative Assessment of Resection Margins in Oral Cavity Cancer: This is the Way
Published on: May 10, 2021
Intraoperative microwave processing of bone margins during resection of head and neck cancer
E C Weisberger1, M Hilburn, B Johnson
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center, 702 Barnhill Dr, Suite 0860, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Objective:
To develop an accurate method for performing histopathologic analysis for a full cross-section of cortical bone within 2 to 3 hours.
Methods:
Microwave technology was used to augment and to more rapidly perform fixation and decalcification of cortical bone.
Results:
Using the methods described, slides suitable for histopathologic analyses regarding the presence or absence of malignant tumor were prepared in 2 to 3 hours and, in 10 patients studied, had a 100% correlation with slides prepared in 7 days using the standard decalcification technique.
Conclusion:
Microwave technology allows accurate assessment of a full cross-section of cortical bone regarding the presence or absence of malignant tumor within the time limits required for resection of a malignant head and neck tumor and reconstruction of the surgical defect.
