Controversies in skin surgery: electrodessication and curettage versus excision for low-risk, small, well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C) of low-risk, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) generally consumes less time and resources than excision. Review of the literature reveals few recent studies examining cure rates for ED&C in the treatment of low risk cutaneous SCC.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate via two retrospective studies the efficacy of ED&C in the treatment of low risk cutaneous SCC.


METHODS
A small controlled study in a Veterans Administration teaching hospital dermatology clinic compared cure rates of low risk SCC at one year by ED&C to those of surgical excision. A second study examined the cure rate of low risk lesions treated by curettage and electrodesiccation in a private practice.


RESULTS
The first study found no significant difference in cure rates between ED&C (14 of 14 cases successfully treated) and excision (15 of 16 successfully treated and one recurrence) (P = 0.1711). The second study found the ED&C cure rate (106 of 106 successfully treated) to be significantly greater than an arbitrary cure rate of 95 percent (P = 0.0091).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the efficacy of ED&C as a treatment modality for low-risk cutaneous SCC.
Reschly
Matthew J
MJ
North Atlanta Dermatology, Duluth, GA, USA.
Shenefelt
Philip D
PD
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*