title: Early Detection of Desiccation and Curettage Failure in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a malignant neoplasm of keratinocytes. Electrodessication and curettage (ED&amp;C) published cure rates vary widely, and the authors of this study are unaware of any previous literature which has attempted to rapidly identify treatment failures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify BCC ED&amp;C failures by histologically analyzing the fragments produced by the third round of curettage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The monitoring of routine therapy of 862 cases of BCC that were treated by ED&amp;C followed by the submission of cautery fragments of the third round of curettage for histological and immunohistochemical testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 862 cases, 764 (89%) had no residual BCC seen in their curetting. Of these patients, zero recurrences (0%) were noted. Forty-eight of the 862 cases had residual BCC seen in their curetting and elected to receive no additional therapy. Eighteen (38%) had a recurrence detected. Fifty of the 862 cases had residual BCC seen in their curetting and elected for immediate re-excision. Thirty-five (70%) had histological evidence of residual BCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was performed at a single center with 2 years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pathological examination of curettage fragments in combination with immunohistochemistry testing appears to be beneficial in predicting which patients are likely to have recurrence of BCC after ED&amp;C.
authors.affiliation: Doylestown Hospital Pennsylvania, Richboro, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Woldow
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Melvin
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003475:Curettage; D003890:Desiccation; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Ber-EP4; Curettage; Electrodessication and curettage; Immunohistochemistry; Recurrence