Procedure | Non-Surgical
Electrodesiccation
Electrodesiccation uses electric current delivered via a needle-shaped electrode to superheat the skin in pinpoint precise areas.
A round dull instrument orr a curette of varying sizes is used to scrape off cancer down to the dermis. The scraping is then paused while an electrosurgical device like a hyfrecator is administered. Electrocoagulation (electrodesiccation) is performed over the raw surgical ulcer to denature a layer of the dermis and the curette is used again over the surgical ulcer to remove the denatured dermis down to living tissue. In the case of skin cancers, the cautery and electrodesiccation is usually performed three times, or until the surgeon is confident that reasonable margins have been achieved.
It is a medical procedure commonly performed by dermatologists, surgeons, and general practitioners for the treatment of basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers of the skin.
Curettage and electrodesiccation is typically an outpatient procedure that can be performed in the doctor’s office. The treated area will be numbed prior to the treatment.
Your doctor will then began to scrape the cancerous cells and then burn the area. Once completed, the area will be cleaned and bandaged.
You will be able to drive yourself home after a curettage and electrodesiccation procedure. Depending on how deep the cells are, your doctor may repeat these steps two to three times.
Immediately after the procedure, an antibiotic or white petrolatum ointment with an overlying dressing will be applied. The patient will be given wound care instructions to follow at home.
The wound can appear crusty and ooze fluid for as long as six weeks after the procedure. The shallow wound that results is allowed to heal on its own.
The wound should not be washed for the first 24–48 hours, to allow for initiation of proper healing. Thereafter, it can be cleaned with gentle soap and water. A Band-Aid with white petrolatum or antibiotic ointment can be used on a daily basis.
Depending on the wound size, depth, and location, it may take several weeks for it to completely heal.
The cure rate is highly user-dependent and size of treatment. The cure rate for nodular basal cell cancer is higher than for infiltrative basal cell cancer.
The method is quick and easy to perform under local anesthetic. Used correctly, it can allow for adequate to good cosmetic results on the small tumors in certain areas.
No sutures are used, so a follow up might not be necessary. Minimal expense is required. If recurrence occurs, rapid diagnosis is possible as the roots are exposed to the surface.
Electrodesiccation is typically minimal if performed by an experienced doctor. Complications can include:
• Infection.
• Pain, swelling, crusting or bleeding.
• Recurrence of cancer.
• Painful scarring and itchy for long term
• Cure rate is not as high as other procedures like Mohs surgery.
