
Name
Surgical margin
This definition applies to
All SEER websites where this term appears
Definition
The edge or border of the tissue removed in cancer surgery. The margin is described as negative or clean when the pathologist finds no cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has been removed. The margin is described as positive or involved when the pathologist finds cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has not been removed.
Resource
Alternate Names
Surgical margin
Abstractor Notes
None
Histology
None
Primary Sites
None
