Radiation therapy is usually used to maximize local control because of the inability to obtain wide surgical margins.

The elimination of any malignant cells at the surgical margins is critical to patient recovery.

A surgeon often will perform a second surgery if a narrow surgical margin is noted on a pathology report.

However, for cosmetic reasons, many doctors take only very small surgical margins 1-2 mm, especially when operating on the face.

Next, one determines if the surgical margin is clear.

Determination of surgical margin of hard to define skin cancers.

Like standard excision, the wider the surgical margin, the higher the cure rate.

Postoperative radiation therapy is indicated for positive or close surgical margins.

The use of dermatoscopy can significantly improve the surgeon's ability to identify the surgical margin.

Thus, wide surgical margins that are clear of disease are required for a good prognosis.