comparison of therapeutic and cosmetic results of curettage, surgical excision and combined curettage and cauterization in lesions of basal cell carcinoma (bcc)

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: Skin cancers are the most common malignancies of the mankind. Basal call carcinoma (BCC) constitutes the most prevalent skin cancer in human beings. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic and cosmetic results of three methods of treatment of BCC i.e. curettage, surgical excision and combined curettage and cauterization. Materials & Methods: This is an interventional study, through which 79 lesions of BCC on the faces and scalps of 64 patients in Besat hospital of Sanandaj city in 2001-2003 were treated by curettage, surgical excision and combined curettage and cauterization. Collected data were recorded in frequency tables. Results: 69 (87.3%) of tumors were papulonodular type, 61 of them had an ulcer on their surface. 26 tumors were treated by surgery which had a cure rate of 91.7%. 45 (57%) tumors were of solid type. During the follow–up period, an overall recurrence rate of 11.4% (9 tumors) was noticed. Two of the tumors that were treated by surgery, 5 of the tumors treated by curettage, and 2 of those which were treated by combined curettage and cauterization recurred. The cosmetic result in the patients who had been treated by curettage was quite promising, only a small scar or a slight hyper pigmentation was left at the site of the lesions. Conclusion: Curettage is more suitable for the treatment of small lesions of B.C, but it is not recommended for the treatment of the tumors having aggressive behavior or rapid growth. The cosmetic result in the patients treated by combined curettage and cauterization of the lesions was also excellent and in most cases scar was minimal or absent. Combined curettage and cauterization is a cheap and suitable method for the treatment of BCC and it can easily be accomplished.