Curettage-electrodesiccation treatment of basal cell carcinomas.

Cure rates after treatment of basal cell carcinomas with curettage-electrodesiccation were compared among three groups: group A, 597 lesions treated in the Skin and Cancer Unit in 1958 to 1962; group B, 91 lesions treated in the Skin and Cancer Unit in 1970; and group C, 210 lesions treated in private practice in 1962 to 1973. The following were the five-year cumulative recurrence rates: group A, 18.8%; group B, 9.6%; and group C, 5.7%. In all three groups, there were high recurrence rates for tumors treated on the nose, paranasal areas, and forehead. Few complications occurred after curettage-electrodesiccation with the exception of hypertrophic scars. The cosmetic results following curettage-electrodesication improved with time. Curettage-electrodesiccation, when performed by experienced physicians, is a very useful modality for the treatment of basal cell carcinomas, with cure rates of over 90%, satisfactory cosmetic results, and few significant complications.