Treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the skin

The treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the skin should be considered comprehensively based on the patient's age, the size and location of the lesions. The ideal treatment is surgical excision or skin grafting after excision. Patients who cannot undergo surgery can use photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, electrocautery, laser, cryosurgery, etc. Topical topical retinoic acid cream, 5-fluorouracil ointment, etc. have certain therapeutic effects.

1. Surgical resection

Surgical excision of the cancerous lesion for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the skin has the advantages of high cure rate, fast healing and small scars, and should be the first choice in most cases. The excision range should include normal skin more than 0.5 cm around the cancerous lesion, and a routine pathological examination should be performed after the operation to determine whether the tumor has been completely removed.

2. Radiation therapy

The disease is sensitive to radiotherapy. For elderly patients who cannot tolerate surgical resection, or patients with lesions on the lips, eyelids, nose wings, and auricles that are difficult to resect, radiotherapy can be used. Generally, small doses should be used multiple times to avoid causing acute ulcers. Postoperative radiotherapy can be used for deeply infiltrated lesions, but morphea-like basal cell carcinoma and recurrent basal cell carcinoma are not suitable for radiotherapy.

3. Photodynamic therapy

Suitable for superficial and small solid basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Apply photosensitizers such as ALA to the affected area, and then irradiate with 630nm laser. Using the atomic oxygen generated in this process to treat tumors often requires multiple treatments and is costly.

4. Cryosurgery, laser or electrocautery

It is suitable for elderly patients who cannot tolerate surgical resection, but the efficacy is uncertain.

5. Local drug treatment

Applying retinoic acid cream, 5-fluorouracil ointment, miquimod ointment, etc. to the skin lesions has certain therapeutic and preventive effects.