Electrodesiccation and curettage
Electrodesiccation and curettage | |
---|---|
Other names | ED & C |
Specialty | dermatology |
Electrodesiccation and curettage (EDC, ED & C, or ED+C) is a
Procedure
A round dull instrument (curette) of varying sizes (1 mm to 6 mm) is used to scrape off the cancer down to the dermis.[2][3][4] The scraping is then paused while an electrosurgical device like a hyfrecator is used next. 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 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.[4]
Applications
- Seborrheic keratosis
- Viral warts
- Bowens disease (in situ squamous cell carcinoma)
- Pyogenic granuloma
- Actinic keratoses
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Keratoacanthoma
- Skin tags
Cure rate
The cure rate is highly user dependent.
Advantages
The method is quick and easy to perform under local anesthetic. Used correctly, it can allow for adequate to good cosmetic result on small tumor in certain area. No sutures are used, so a follow-up visit might not be necessary. Minimal expense is required. If recurrence occur, rapid diagnosis is possible as the roots are exposed to the surface, and not buried by surgical closure methods (flaps, etc.).[5]
Disadvantages
As the
References
- ^ "Electrodessication and Curettage". Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ http://www.healthpress.co.uk/acatalog/ffminsur.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Dermatology Procedures - American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD)". www.aocd.org.
- ^ a b "Curettage and cautery | DermNet NZ". dermnetnz.org.
- ^ PMID 16713459.
- ^ "The Skin Cancer Foundation - Curettage-electrodessication". Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ http://wwwu.tsgh.ndmctsgh.edu.tw/commcpc/images/nccn/Non-Melanoma%20Skin%20Cancer-2007.pdf[permanent dead link]