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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Intraoperative Assessment of Resection Margins in Oral Cavity Cancer: This is the Way
Published on: May 10, 2021
A meta-analysis of margin size and local recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Caroline Rachael Anderson1, Katherine Sisson2, Marc Moncrieff3
1Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.
Objectives:
Excision margins for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are poorly understood. Close (<5mm) and involved (<1mm) pathological margins are key indicators of the need for adjuvant treatment. This review aimed to assess the impact of pathological margin size on local recurrence rates.
Methods:
MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for studies that looked at local recurrence following excision of primary OSCC without adjuvant therapy. Five studies met the inclusion criteria.
Results:
Recurrence rates were pooled to give a 21% absolute risk reduction (95% confidence interval 12-30%, p=<0.00001) in local recurrence with margins clear by more than 5mm. Unweighted pooled recurrence rates were 20% in patients with margins clear by more than 5mm.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that a 5mm pathological margin is the minimum acceptable margin size in OSCC.
