In the context of the goal of resection, negative margins mean the margins are:

In the context of the goal of resection, negative margins mean the margins are:

• A. Free of tumor cells
• B. Infiltrated by tumor
• C. Unknown
• D. Inflammatory only

Answer: (A)

Negative margins mean the edge of the removed tissue is free of tumor cells when examined by a pathologist. The inked margin is checked, and if no cancer cells touch or come to the edge, the margin is negative, indicating the tumor has been fully excised within the resection. This is the goal because it lowers the risk of local recurrence after surgery. If tumor cells are at the edge, or within the ink, the margins are positive (or very close, depending on protocol), which may prompt re-excision or additional therapy. The other options don’t describe this edge-free status; infiltrated by tumor would imply a positive margin, unknown is not a standard margin designation, and inflammatory only doesn’t reflect tumor clearance at the margin.

Negative margins mean the edge of the removed tissue is free of tumor cells when examined by a pathologist. The inked margin is checked, and if no cancer cells touch or come to the edge, the margin is negative, indicating the tumor has been fully excised within the resection. This is the goal because it lowers the risk of local recurrence after surgery. If tumor cells are at the edge, or within the ink, the margins are positive (or very close, depending on protocol), which may prompt re-excision or additional therapy. The other options don’t describe this edge-free status; infiltrated by tumor would imply a positive margin, unknown is not a standard margin designation, and inflammatory only doesn’t reflect tumor clearance at the margin.