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

Title: National Cancer Institute
NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

Alternate Names

Surgical margin

Abstractor Notes

None

Histology

None

Primary Sites

None
Glossary