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Marking a surgical margin for excision of a keratinocyte cancer
Chloe A Mutimer1, Anthony J Dicker2
1BBMed, MD (Distinct), Medical Registrar, Alfred Hospital, Vic; Australian Skin Cancer Clinics, Vic.
Background:
The size of the measured margin for excision of a keratinocyte cancer is often discussed; however, a technique for marking the skin is rarely described.
Objective:
The aim of this article is to describe a method for marking a lesion for excision.
Discussion:
The key to surgical excision of a keratinocyte cancer is the assessment of the tumour border in good light under loupe magnification and delineation using a skin marker. The surgical margin is then added around the lesion. Often an elliptical excision is performed, with lesions excised adhering to the drawn line and then closed appropriately.
