Background: Dermatopathologists often are asked by clinicians to report margins on punch excisions of melanocytic lesions.
Objective: We sought to determine the adequacy of surgical margins on melanocytic lesions submitted with intention of complete excision using punch removal technique.
Methods: We conducted prospective analysis of surgical margins on 266 consecutive patients who underwent attempted complete removal of 405 melanocytic nevi submitted as punch and fusiform excisions.
Results: Of 206 nonbisected punch excisions, 127 (62%) had final positive margins. Of 159 bisected punch excisions, 76 (48%) had final positive margins. Of 40 elliptical excisions, two (5%) had final positive margins.
Limitations: Information on the perilesional rim of nonpigmented skin included in the excision was not available.
Conclusions: Of punch excisions, 56% had positive margins. Importantly, 30% of these punch excised specimens were negative on initial levels but had positive margins after extensive sectioning, affirming that fusiform excisions are the preferred method to evaluate margins in melanocytic lesions.