Intraoperative Assessment of Margin Accuracy in Early Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cT1, T2, N0): Clinical Versus Frozen Section Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe incidence of oral cavity cancer is increasing. During oral carcinoma surgery, to achieve a tumor-free margin, intraoperative margin assessment includes two primary methods, namely, clinical examination and frozen section analysis. With extensive preoperative imaging investigations and intraoperative clinical margin assessment, the need for further cost and resource-intensive frozen section analysis has recently come under question. This study aimed to assess whether frozen section analysis can be safely omitted in most cases of early oral squamous cell carcinoma surgeries for cost-effectiveness. MethodologyA hospital-based, observational study including 30 admitted cases of early oral squamous cell carcinoma was conducted at the