A retrospective study on the effectiveness of curettage and electrodesiccation for clinically suspected primary nodular basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

A retrospective study on the effectiveness of curettage and electrodesiccation for clinically suspected primary nodular basal cell carcinoma An easy, cheap, and practical therapy for nodular basal cell carcinoma (nBCC) is curettage combined with electrodessication (C&ED). 1,2 Recurrence rates for BCC after C&ED range from 1-27%, influenced by anatomic location, histopathologic growth pattern, and size. 2-7

S2k Guidelines for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma – Part 2: Treatment, Prevention and Follow‐up

“…Tumor removal by shave excision allows for (limited) histological control and may therefore be considered in certain situations. Given the higher likelihood of residual tumor cells in the area treated, recurrence rates are increased, especially in the head/neck region, and may be as high as 83 % for nBCC . Better results, however, can be achieved for lesions on the trunk, in particular for superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) .…”

S2k‐Leitlinie Basalzellkarzinom der Haut – Teil 2: Therapie, Prävention und Nachsorge

“…Die Abtragung des Tumors mittels Flachexzision (Shave‐Exzision) von BZK lässt eine (eingeschränkte) histologische Kontrolle zu und kann daher in bestimmten Situationen in Erwägung gezogen werden. Aufgrund einer höheren Wahrscheinlichkeit von verbleibenden Tumorzellen im Behandlungsareal ist die Rezidivrate insbesondere an Kopf und Hals entsprechend hoch und wird mit 83 % bei nBZK angegeben . Im Bereich des Körpers und insbesondere bei superfiziellem Basalzellkarzinom (sBZK) lassen sich jedoch bessere Ergebnisse erzielen .…”

Management of skin cancer in the frail elderly: time for a rethink?

“…Also in this issue of the BJD, a second analysis by the same authors examines recurrence rates following the use of two or more cycles of curettage and electrodessication using a Volkmann spoon (C&ED) in the management of nodular basal cell carcinoma (nBCC). 2 Although the study is limited by a small sample size and a relatively short follow-up period (3-5 years), preliminary findings show low 5-year recurrence rates (6%), even at sites considered to be at high risk of recurrence, such as in the H-zone. The authors suggest that whereas most guidelines recommend the use of this technique only for low-risk BCC, usually defined as < 5 mm in size in low risk sites (outside the H-zone) and with no clinical suspicion of an infiltrative growth pattern, the use of C&ED might be considered in primary nBCC larger than 5 mm, regardless of anatomic location.…”

“…Also in this issue of the BJD , a second analysis by the same authors examines recurrence rates following the use of two or more cycles of curettage and electrodessication using a Volkmann spoon (C&ED) in the management of nodular basal cell carcinoma (nBCC) . Although the study is limited by a small sample size and a relatively short follow‐up period (3–5 years), preliminary findings show low 5‐year recurrence rates (6%), even at sites considered to be at high risk of recurrence, such as in the H‐zone.…”