Electrodesiccation and curettage for Basal Cell Carcinoma

[tsering]

Can anyone give some clue how is Electrodesiccation and curettage done for Basal Cell Carcinoma of skin. Is it treatment of choice for Basal Cell Carcinoma of skin or are there any other options ?

[Dr.Deepak]

There are many other options but Electrodesiccation and curettage is most widely used method for the removal of Basal Cell Carcinoma. This involves remoal of tumor mass by curettage and Electrodesiccation with a 1-2 mm margin of normal skin. This process repeated two or more times. The crusted plaque will heal in 2-6 weeks with a flat,hypopigmented scar,often with a hypertropic center. The recurrence rate is around 6%- 10% for well defined tumors located on trunk and extermities and around 30% 50% for those tumors located on head and neck.

[tsering]

Thank you deepak. Are there any other options ? could you give it brief ? thanks

[vencasand]

my brother in law had basal cell cancer on his nose. his doctor diagnosed it and sent him to bethesda hospital near washington dc. the doctor that removed it also remove cartlidge from his ear to replace the cartlidge that was removed with the cancer. it is amazing now you can't even tell where the cancer was!!!!!

[Dr.Deepak]

Thank you deepak. Are there any other options ? could you give it brief ? thanks

well there are many other options like:

Excisional surgery,cryotherapy by spray technique,Mohs' micrographic surgery,
Radiation therapy,Carbon dioxide lasers,Photodynamic therapy. Some medical therapies like Interferon alpha,Topical fluorouracil (5-FU).. You can google them for details.