Surgical Dermatology Services

Treatment Options

If your in-office skin examination reveals a lesion that appears suspicious, a skin biopsy (procedure in which a sample of skin tissue is removed, processed, and examined under a microscope) will be performed. If the biopsy reveals cancer, we will assist you in selecting the treatment option which is most appropriate for your case considering the type of cancer, size and location of the cancer, as well as your needs.

Excisional Surgery is a procedure in which the skin cancer is surgically removed along with a margin of normal appearing tissue surrounding the tumor. In general, the more invasive the skin cancer, the more tissue is removed. Following the procedure, the specimen is examined under a microscope to ensure that all of the skin cancer has been removed. In the case of a melanoma that is thin and has not spread beyond the original site, excisional surgery may be the only treatment required.

Curettage and Electrodesiccation is a surgical procedure, which is often used to treat basal cell and squamous cell tumors in their earliest stages.  It involves, scraping off the surface of the skin cancer and gently burning or cauterizing the base of it with an electric needle. This scraping and cauterizing process is typically repeated several times to ensure all cancerous tissue is removed.

Cryosurgery is a technique using liquid nitrogen for freezing and killing abnormal cells. It is used to treat some precancerous or noncancerous conditions such as actinic keratoses. Cryosurgery may have fewer side effects than other types of treatments, and is less expensive and requires shorter recovery times, however the technique is still under study, and its long-term effectiveness is not known.

Topical Therapy or anti-cancer cream or lotion may be used to treat actinic keratoses which represent the earliest stages of squamous cell carcinoma. Localized red spots may remain for a period of time. It is also recommended as a preventive measure.