Is The Routine Microscopic Examination of Proximal and Distal Resection Margins in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Justified?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States with over 52,000 Americans expected to die of large bowel cancer this year [1]. Complete surgical excision of all detectable tumor is verified by the pathologist's examination and documentation of the tumor-free status of all surgical margins [2]. The true proximal and distal margins in CRC surgery are usually the stapled “donuts” that result from the anastomosis of the intestine at either side of the resected segment and are routinely submitted in a separate container.
Source: Annals of Diagnostic Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Source Type: research