[Cryosurgery for nose basal cell carcinoma. Series of 17 tumors].

UNLABELLED

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumour of the skin frequently located on the head and chiefly on the nose. Cryosurgery is one of the methods to treat BCC.

OBJECT

To determine the efficacy of cryosurgery of 17 BCC of the nose in terms of recurrence rates and cosmetic results.

RESULTS

15 patients were included with a median age of 73 years and a photo type III or IV in 86% of cases. Mean size of tumours was 12 mm. Lesions were chiefly located on the alae nasi (70.5%). Complications were few and minor. After an average follow-up of 13.5 months, recurrence rate was about 5.8% (one case). Cosmetic results were good or excellent in 14 cases/17; only one patient had developed a notch of the nose.

CONCLUSION

Cryosurgery is a rapid, of a low cost technique and chiefly with good oncological and cosmetic results.