Histologic cure of basal cell carcinoma treated with cryosurgery.
BACKGROUND
Cryosurgery is a method of treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Despite numerous studies reporting excellent cure rates with cryosurgery, there are no studies in the literature that have shown a histologic cure of BCC.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to show histologically that cryosurgery is an effective cure for well-defined, noduloulcerative BCC of the trunk and upper extremities.


METHODS
Twelve noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and proximal upper extremities less than 1 cm were treated with single freeze-thaw cryosurgery using a cryoprobe apparatus with liquid nitrogen. A thermocouple needle measured temperature, with the goal to reach between -50 degrees C and -60 degrees C. One to 2 months later, the site was excised and examined with horizontal step sections throughout the entire tissue.


RESULTS
No tissue specimens had histologic evidence of tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Single freeze-thaw cryosurgery provides a histologic cure of well-defined, noduloulcerative BCCs of the trunk and extremities less than or equal to 1 cm.
Giuffrida
Theodore J
TJ
University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
Jimenez
Gloria
G
Nouri
Keyvan
K
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome