Superficial skin cancer and some pre-cancerous lesions can often be removed without more invasive excision procedures such as wide excision or Mohs surgery. Small, well-defined squamous and basal cell carcinomas that are located on top of the skin, as well as some actinic keratoses, may be removed with a procedure called electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C). At MJR Dermatology, we perform outpatient ED&C procedures for skin cancer treatment at our medical center in Lawrenceville, GA.
What Is ED&C?
ED&C is a skin lesion removal procedure that utilizes both shaving the top layer of skin (curettage) and cauterizing the remaining skin cells with electrical current (electrodesiccation). This method of skin cancer removal does not require deep incisions or stitches, which is less invasive and has fewer risks of infection or bleeding than excision procedures.
ED&C is recommended for small SCC or BCC lesions that are localized in the top layer of skin. It is not used for melanoma or larger lesions that may have spread to the surrounding skin or tissue.
What to Expect During ED&C
An ED&C procedure can be performed in less than an hour in most cases. First, the skin is thoroughly sterilized and numbed with local anesthesia. Once the skin is completely numb, a tool called a curette is used to shave the top layer of skin from the lesion. This tool has a sharp looped edge that scrapes away the top of the lesion. This is followed by placing an electric needle into the underlying skin to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Larger lesions may need this treatment performed twice during the procedure.
Most patients who undergo an ED&C for skin cancer have a quick recovery with few risks for complications. The treatment is very effective for removing small, topical SCC and BCC lesions, stopping the spread of the cancer cells.
If you have been diagnosed with SCC or BCC skin cancer and need a lesion or tumor removed, contact our team at MJR Dermatology. Call our medical clinic in the North Atlanta area in Lawrenceville, GA, to schedule your skin cancer consultation appointment with Dr. Matthew Reschly.