How to Approach Margins in Head and Neck Cancer: Practical Guide and Discussion of Controversies

This interactive session focuses on margin assessment for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. We will provide a practical guide for approaching and assessing margins both pre- and intra-operatively, with advice and suggestions that will be widely applicable to otolaryngologists. In particular, we will describe methods for pre-operative DOI assessment, review studies related to margins from the specimen versus the wound bed, discuss the definition of an adequate margin (close vs negative), present methods for intraoperative margin assessment using ultrasound and other forms of imaging, and provide a glimpse of what the future hold for molecular-based margin assessment as well. This important topic will be approached through case-based discussion including live audience polling.