Clinical Observation or Further Excision: A Retrospective Review of Margin-positive Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas.

Background: Patients determined to have margin-positive nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) after initial shave or punch biopsy performed by a primary care physician or dermatologist are commonly referred to extirpative surgeons for definitive removal. Not infrequently, the residual tumor is not appreciable, and the exact location of the lesion is indiscernible. The consulting surgeon must decide to excise the presumed lesion or clinically monitor for recurrence.