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Nonmelanoma skin cancer

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Opinion statement

Therapy for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) does not end with treatment of the initial lesion because almost 50% of patients with one nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) develop another NMSC in the next 5 years. An integrated program of skin cancer awareness, sun protection, and prophylactic approaches is critical. The risk profile of the tumor influences which therapies and specialties will be involved. Most NMSCs may be treated with outpatient methods. Primary care physicians may treat low-risk tumors, but dermatologists specially trained in cutaneous oncology and a multidisciplinary team should manage high-risk lesions. Superficial BCC and SCC may be treated adequately with superficial modalities such as electrodesiccation and curettage (EDC) and cryotherapy. Topical 5-fluorouracil is effective for small in situ lesions. Invasive but low-risk lesions may be treated with EDC and cryotherapy provided that the tumor is limited to the papillary dermis, is not recurrent, and does not have high-risk features. High-risk tumors are best treated with excision and histologic examination or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). MMS is the therapeutic gold standard for all NMSCs in terms of cure rates, margin control, and tissue conservation. Because of its higher cost and specialized process, MMS is best reserved for specific indications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, 55905, Rochester, MN, USA

    Tri H. Nguyen MD & Diana Quynh-Dao Ho MD

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  1. Tri H. Nguyen MD
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  2. Diana Quynh-Dao Ho MD
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Nguyen, T.H., Ho, D.QD. Nonmelanoma skin cancer. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 3, 193–203 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-002-0009-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-002-0009-0

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