TriangleHEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING
Curettage and electrodesiccation
Source: Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary.
Curettage and electrodesiccation is a widely employed method for removing primary BCCs, especially superficial lesions of the neck, trunk, and extremities that are considered to be at low risk of recurrence. A sharp curette is used to scrape the tumor down to its base, followed by electrodesiccation of the lesion base. Although curettage and electrodesiccation is a quick method for destroying the tumor, the adequacy of treatment cannot be assessed immediately because the surgeon cannot visually detect the depth of microscopic tumor invasion. This procedure is also sometimes called electrosurgery.
Evidence (curettage and electrodesiccation):
A Cochrane Collaboration systematic review found no randomized trials comparing this treatment method with other approaches.[10]
Source links and citations
In a large, single-center case series of 2,314 previously untreated BCCs managed at a major skin cancer unit, the 5-year recurrence rate of BCCs of the neck, trunk, and extremities after curettage and electrodesiccation was 3.3%. However, rates increased substantially for tumors larger than 6 mm in diameter at other anatomical sites.[25][Level of evidence C2]
Source links and citations
Publication references
Read the original reference and check its publication notices.
Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice