NAACCR Item #3961: Clinical Margin Width

Item # Length Source of Standard Year Implemented Version Implemented Year Retired Version Retired
3,961 4 CoC 2023 2023

NAACCR XML: Tumor.clinicalMarginWidth

Description

Clinical Margin Width describes the margins from a wide excision for a melanoma primary. The margin width is measured by the surgeon prior to the procedure. The measurement is taken, in centimeters, from the edge of the lesion or the prior excision scar to the peripheral margin of the specimen.

Rationale

Clinical margin width for wide local excision of a melanoma is based on the original Breslow thickness of the primary tumor, as indicated on the initial biopsy pathology report.