Surgical therapy for basal cell epitheliomas by curettage only.

Thorough curettage alone was used to treat 214 basal cell epitheliomas (BCEs) of 152 patients who were followed up from six months to 13 years (the initial three were treated 19 years ago). One hundred sixty-four treated sites have been followed for at least two years, 132 for at least four years, and 121 for five years or longer. There were six treatment failures in the 214 lesions followed to date. Two recurred at ten months, one at 12 months, two at 20 months, and one at 25 months after treatment. If it is carefully done, the curettage alone cure rate compares favorably with other forms of treatment. Curettage is simple, effective, and inexpensive treatment of BCEs.