[Long-term experiences with histologic control of the incision margin (3-D histology)]

In order to make sure that malignant tumors of the skin are excised completely, excisional margin control has been performed in our department for 8 years. For this purpose, tissue is excised, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. The tumor and the excisional margins are examined separately. A total of 2016 basal cell carcinomas have been followed up for up to 4 years. If histological examination of the excised margins still show evidence of the tumor, re-excision is performed until the excised margins are free of the lesion. This procedure has proven to be very successful, with a recurrence rate of only 0.35%. The tissue is processed in a routine histology laboratory according to standard procedures.