title: Recurrence rates of aggressive histologic types of basal cell carcinoma after treatment with electrodesiccation and curettage alone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in Caucasians. Treatment options include electrodesiccation and curettage (EDC), surgical excision, and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). EDC is standard for smaller BCCs in low-risk locations with nonaggressive histologic subtypes. Larger BCCs in higher-risk locations and aggressive histologic subtypes are treated using surgical excision or MMS. We found no studies reporting recurrence rates for aggressive BCC subtypes treated using EDC alone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine recurrence rates of histologically aggressive BCC treated using EDC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based, retrospective case study reviewed 37 primary infiltrative, desmoplastic, morpheaform, or micronodular BCCs in 34 patients treated with EDC. Recurrence was defined as reappearance of BCC within the boundaries of or contiguous to the scar resulting from initial treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 37 primary aggressive BCCs, 10 recurred within 3.3 years. Average primary tumor diameter was 0.69 cm. Average primary tumor diameter was 0.73 cm for those that recurred and 0.67 cm for those that did not recur. Six recurrences were in high-risk areas, three in moderate-risk areas, and one in a low-risk area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report a 27% recurrence rate for histologically aggressive BCCs treated using EDC alone with median 6.5 years follow-up.
authors: School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. stratman.erik@marshfieldclinic.org
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Blixt
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Nelsen
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Stratman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003475:Curettage; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*