Surgical excision versus curettage plus cryosurgery in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Both cryosurgery, with and without prior curettage, and surgical excision (SE) are common therapeutic strategies for basal cell carcinoma (BCC).


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to compare the efficacy between curettage plus cryosurgery (C&C) and SE in nonaggressive BCC of the head and neck.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial was carried out, in which tumors were assigned to either C&C (n=51) or SE (n=49). C&C was performed with a double freeze-thaw cycle after prior curettage of the tumor. SE was performed with a margin of 3 mm and with delayed histologic examination.


RESULTS
Recurrences occurred 9 times after C&C (17.6%) and 4 times after SE (8.2%). The overall 5-year recurrence probability was 19.6% for C&C and 8.4% for SE (p=.10). A hazard ratio of 2.57 (95% CI, 0.79-8.34) indicated a putative, but not statistically significant, advantage of SE.


CONCLUSIONS
These data reflect the outcome of the first randomized controlled trial with long-term follow-up in the treatment of BCC, comparing C&C with SE. Although not statistically significantly different, the observed differences could still be of clinical relevance. Owing to the trend toward lower recurrence rates, better cosmetic results, and reduced wound healing time, we believe that SE should be preferred to C&C in the treatment of primary, nonaggressive BCC of the head and neck.
Kuijpers
Danielle I M
DI
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Maastricht, P. Debijelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. Dku@sder.azm.nl
Thissen
Monique R T M
MR
Berretty
Paul J M
PJ
Ideler
Fons H L B
FH
Nelemans
Patty J
PJ
Neumann
Martino H A M
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009426:Netherlands; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome