Cryosurgery of basal cell carcinoma: a study of 358 patients.

Introduction. Cryosurgery is a well-established therapeutic modality for ba sal cell carcinoma. We report herein an important series of basal cell carc inoma treated by cryosurgery, with a five year cure rate evaluation. Patients and method. Retrospective study with 395 basal cell carcinomas lov er 358 patients - sex ratio H/F: 0.85) treated by cryosurgery between 1981 and 1992 For each patient the data were: age, sex, size of the lesion, loca tion, clinical sub-type, tissue-temperature monitoring, recurrence date and esthetic outcome. Result. The lesions were located on the face (93 p, 100) and back (7 p. 100 ). Mean size was 17 mm. Clinical sub-types were known for 178 lesions; 11 p . 100 of BCC were morpheaform. Tissue-temperature monitoring was performed for 55 p. 100 of cases. 111 tumors were observed for more than 5 years. The 5-year actuarial failure rate was 9 p. too. The 5-year cure rate was not s ignificantly altered by sex, size of lesions, location and clinical sub-typ e. Nc frequent recurrences were observed when tissue-temperature monitoring had not been performed. Complications were rare and esthetic outcome was g ood. Discussion. The 5-year actuarial recurrence rate with cryosurgery is simila r to conventional surgery. It is not essential to control tissue-temperatur e for preventing recurrences. Cryosurgery is a reliable treatment and outco me depends on surgeon experience. Quickness and low cost of this procedure argue for choosing cryosurgery when treating elderly patients.