Fig. 7.

Orientation of the revised (or tumor bed) margin. Schematic representation of a left partial glossectomy with residual submucosal carcinoma at anterior margin, represented by white irregular areas in the anterior aspect of glossectomy specimen. After positive anterior margin was communicated to surgical team, additional issue was obtained; however, the new true margin surface of the revised anterior margin was not indicated. Without orientation, the surface to be examined intraoperatively or for final pathology is picked randomly. The dark blue irregular area on the right glass slide represents tumor. If the true new margin is indicated and examined intraoperatively and frozen section is negative for tumor, but permanent section of the frozen remnant reveals tumor, the overall margin status is “close, but negative”. However, if true new margin is not indicated, the determination as to what represents true margin (frozen or permanent) is impossible. Without orientation, assuming that frozen section represents the true margin is difficult to justify