Surgical Treatment of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers

Non melanoma skin cancer ---> treatment of Non melanoma skin cancer ---> Non melanoma skin cancer Surgery

A skin biopsy for diagnosis is important before treatment of any skin cancer. Fortunately, most non melanoma skin cancers are small, low-risk lesions that respond with 90% to 95% cure rates to standard treatment techniques, including curettage and electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, radiation therapy, and surgical resection. Many skin cancers can be removed with elliptical excisions. Margins for low-risk SCC range from 0.5 to 1 cm. Margins for low-risk BCC range from 0.3 to 0.5 cm. Mohs surgery should be considered for BCCs and SCCs that exhibit the higher-risk factors. If Mohs surgery is not available, excision with careful frozen-section control (with permanent section confirmation) is indicated. The fundamental oncologic principle of tumor clearance first, reconstruction second should be followed.