A Review of the Global Guidelines on Surgical Margins for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers.

Adequate treatment and follow-up of a patient with nonmelanoma skin cancer is of utmost concern for a clinician. However, there is a lack of international consensus on recommendations for surgical excision margins. Furthermore, lack of familiarity of the published guidelines leads to a variety in practice styles. To compare the consistency in global recommendations for surgical excision margins for basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and Merkel cell carcinoma. A review of the current literature and global guidelines for surgical excision margins for basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Upon review of international guidelines, variations do exist among guidelines for peripheral and deep surgical margins. Guideline recommendations were found to be more globally consistent in margin selection for low-risk basal cell carcinoma and low-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, however, least consistent when concerning margin selection for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and Merkel cell carcinoma. Although guidelines exist, there is a need for international collaboration and consensus to determine a more unified and evidence-based approach to surgical excision as a treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancer.