The effective treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 75% of all skin cancers and its incidence is rising by between 3-8% each year (Szeimies and Karrer, 2006). As a result, the development of new therapeutic strategies and treatment methods for the removal of BCC is crucial in combating what is a growing problem. Surgical techniques, such as Mohs micrographic surgery, cryotherapy/cryosurgery, curettage and carbon dioxide laser therapy, as well as non-surgical techniques, such as radiotherapy, are recognized as potential options. The aim of this article is to critically review some of the current literature in order to substantiate the efficacy of destructive and non-surgical techniques as reliable alternatives to surgery for the management/removal of BCCs. The success rate, cosmetic outcome, pain and discomfort, recurrence rates, and the cost associated with each method are explored and discussed. Results of the review indicate that no one treatment is completely superior. According to the research, simple excision and Mohs micrographic surgery provide the lowest recurrence rates. However, in relation to success rates, patients tolerance of the treatment and cosmetic outcomes, and depending on the type of BCC involved, other treatment methods do offer reliable alternatives.

Neck Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma, a Therapeutic Challenge

“…In average patient has 37.1 months with the lesion at the moment of diagnosis 18 . The percentage of recurrence is related to the presence of neoplastic cells in the surgical margins, reaching 15-67% in cases of positivity, and this is significantly diminished with negative margins (1.3-4%) 17 .…”

“…The BCC treatment is always focused in a curative resection, with the complete surgical resection as the gold standard in this kind of cancer, and the radiotherapy as an adjuvant is indicated in cases with evidence of locally advanced disease or metástasis 16,17 .…”

“…There exist many different accepted surgical procedures, especially for areas of aesthetic importance as the face, with the Mohs surgery or microscopy control as the first option every time is available 17 .…”

“…The percentage of patients with surgical curative treatment exceeds the 90%, with a mortality <1%. Nevertheless, in a few cases the tumor affects deep structures of the anatomy, conducing to important local morbidity and more aggressive surgeries, sometimes with permanent mutilating and disfiguring procedures to treat the disease 17 .…”

Expressão de citocinas, linfócitos, fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF) e antígeno leucocitário humano G (HLA-G) em carcinoma basocelular

“…Os tratamentos disponíveis podem ser divididos em técnicas não cirúrgicas e cirúrgicas, as quais se subdividem em duas categorias: excisional e destrutiva (Kunte;Konz, 2007;Skelton, 2009).…”