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Treatment Option Overview
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.
Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin are described in Table 10.
Source links and citations
| Stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Criteria) | Treatment Options | |
|---|---|---|
| Basal cell carcinoma | Localized disease | Surgical excision with margin evaluation |
| Mohs micrographic surgery | ||
| Radiation therapy | ||
| Curettage and electrodesiccation | ||
| Cryosurgery | ||
| Photodynamic therapy | ||
| Topical fluorouracil (5-FU) | ||
| Imiquimod topical therapy | ||
| Carbon dioxide laser | ||
| Metastatic or locally advanced disease untreatable by local modalities | Hedgehog pathway inhibitors | |
| Recurrent nonmetastatic disease | Surgical excision | |
| Mohs micrographic surgery | ||
| Squamous cell carcinoma | Localized disease | Surgical excision with margin evaluation |
| Mohs micrographic surgery | ||
| Radiation therapy | ||
| Curettage and electrodesiccation | ||
| Cryosurgery | ||
| Metastatic or locally advanced disease untreatable by local modalities | Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitors) | |
| Recurrent nonmetastatic disease | Surgical excision | |
| Mohs micrographic surgery | ||
| Radiation therapy | ||
| Actinic keratosis | Localized disease | Topical agents |
| Chemical peels | ||
| Surgery | ||
| Photodynamic therapy | ||
| Laser therapy | ||
Source links and citations
- American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Criteria
- Surgical excision with margin evaluation
- Mohs micrographic surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Curettage and electrodesiccation
- Cryosurgery
- Photodynamic therapy
- Topical fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Imiquimod topical therapy
- Carbon dioxide laser
- Hedgehog pathway inhibitors
- Surgical excision
- Mohs micrographic surgery
- Surgical excision with margin evaluation
- Mohs micrographic surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Curettage and electrodesiccation
- Cryosurgery
- Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitors)
- Surgical excision
- Mohs micrographic surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Topical agents
- Chemical peels
- Surgery
- Photodynamic therapy
- Laser therapy
Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice