✦ Curettage and Electrodessication

Curettage and Electrodessication

Q: Is C&E suitable for facial skin cancers?

No — facial skin cancers are best treated with Mohs surgery or wide local excision for higher cure rates and better cosmetic outcomes. C&E is reserved for trunk and limb low-risk lesions.

Q: Will there be a scar?

Yes, typically a round, slightly depressed pale scar at the treatment site. Healing takes 2–3 weeks. The scar may be hypopigmented and is more noticeable on darker skin tones.

Q: What is the cure rate?

For carefully selected superficial basal cell carcinomas on the trunk and limbs, cure rates exceed 90%. Higher-risk tumours treated with C&E have unacceptably high recurrence — selection matters.

Q: What follow-up is needed?

Annual skin checks for at least 5 years to detect recurrence or new skin cancers. Patients with one skin cancer have a 30–50% lifetime risk of developing another, so vigilance matters.

Quick, day-care removal of low-risk superficial skin cancers using a curette to scrape and electrocautery to destroy residual cells — under local anaesthesia.

15–30 min PROCEDURE

Day-Care HOSPITAL STAY

>90% SUCCESS RATE

2–3 Weeks RECOVERY

What is Curettage and Electrodessication?

Curettage and electrodessication (C&E) is a simple, effective treatment for low-risk superficial skin cancers — primarily small superficial basal cell carcinomas and select squamous cell carcinomas in situ. The tumour is scraped away with a curette, then the base is destroyed with electrocautery; this cycle is repeated three times to ensure complete removal. Dr. Abhishek offers C&E at Lux Hospitals for selected low-risk skin cancers in non-cosmetic areas — quick, well-tolerated, and effective for the right patient.

How the Procedure Works

Local Anaesthesia

Local anaesthetic is injected around the tumour to ensure a painless procedure.

Curettage

A sharp curette is used to scrape away the tumour, taking advantage of its softer texture compared to normal skin.

Electrodessication

Electrocautery destroys any residual cancer cells at the base and edges of the wound.

Cycle Repetition

The curettage-cautery cycle is typically repeated three times for adequate margin clearance.

Wound Care

The wound is left to heal by secondary intention with simple dressings and topical antibiotics.

Outcomes

15–30 minDURATION

Day-CareHOSPITAL STAY

>90%SUCCESS RATE

Who Needs This Treatment?

→Quick, simple procedure under local anaesthesia
→No sutures required — wound heals by secondary intention
→Cost-effective for low-risk superficial cancers
→Same-day discharge with minimal recovery time
→Well-tolerated in elderly or medically frail patients
→Good cure rates when patient and tumour are well-selected

Curettage and electrodessication is a perfectly good operation for the right tumour in the right place. Knowing when not to use it — facial cancers, recurrences, aggressive subtypes — is just as important as knowing how to do it well.

— Dr. Abhishek Katha, Consultant General & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is C&E suitable for facial skin cancers?+

Will there be a scar?+

What is the cure rate?+

What follow-up is needed?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Book a consultation with Dr. Abhishek Katha and get a personalised treatment plan.

WhatsApp Us ← Back to Treatments