Curettage-cryosurgery for non-melanoma skin cancer of the external ear: excellent 5-year results

In this 5-year follow-up study, 60 auricular non-melanoma skin cancers, sel ected at a skin tumour clinic, were treated by a thorough curettage with di fferent sized curettes followed by cryosurgery in a double freeze-thaw cycl e. Tumours of the external auditory canal were excluded. Forty-seven basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), nine squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), three Bowen's disease and one basisquamous cancer were included. The mean diameter of th e malignancies was 18 mm (range 5-70). Morphoeiform BCCs, recurrent BCCs wi th fibrotic component and most of the SCCs were selected for Mohs' microgra phic surgery. Forty-two patients with 47 tumours were followed-up for at le ast 5 years with only one recurrence. Thirteen patients, followed-up for 2- 4 years, died from other causes with no sign of recurrence at their last vi sit. No major problems after treatment were registered and the cosmetic res ult was good or acceptable in all patients.