Interventions for basal cell carcinoma of the skin

Bath-Hextall FJ, Perkins W, Bong J, Williams HC

Published Online:

October 8, 2008

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common human cancer. It is usually caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet light. Although not life threatening, basal cell carcinoma can destroy the skin and neighbouring tissues, causing significant cosmetic disfigurement, especially on the face. Treatments include surgical removal, radiotherapy, cryotherapy (freezing), phototherapy (light therapy) and creams. Surgery and radiotherapy appear to be the most effective treatments for basal cell carcinoma and Mohs' micrographic surgery (the removal of the tumour layer by layer until it has gone, as determined histologically) the most effective for high risk facial basal cell carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy appears to be useful in the short-term, especially for people who wish to avoid scarring. However, long-term follow-up is needed. Cryotherapy, while convenient and less expensive, does not have a higher cure rate. Early results for imiquimod cream are promising for superficial basal cell carcinoma, and results from an ongoing study are awaited.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the commonest skin cancer. BCCs are slow-growing, locally invasive, epidermal skin tumours which mainly affect white skinned people. The first line treatment is usually surgical excision, but numerous alternatives are available.

Objectives:

To assess the effects of treatments for basal cell carcinoma.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register (January 2006), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane LIbrary Issue 1, 2006), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (The Cochrane L i brary Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (2004 to January 2006), EMBASE (2005 to January 2006), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (February 2006). Cited references of all trials identified and key review articles were searched. Pharmaceutical companies were contacted where appropriate for reviews or unpublished trials.

Selection criteria:

Inclusion criteria were adults with one or more histologically proven, primary basal cell carcinoma. The primary outcome measure was recurrence at three to five years, measured clinically. The secondary outcome included early treatment failure within six months, measured histologically. Adverse treatment effects included aesthetic appearance and pain during and after treatment.

Data collection and analysis:

Two authors independently carried out study selection and assessment of methodological quality.

Main results:

Twenty seven studies were identified. Only one RCT of surgery versus radiotherapy had primary outcome data at four years, showing significantly more persistent tumours and recurrences in the radiotherapy group as compared to the surgery group, (RR 0.09, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.69). One study found no significant difference for recurrence at 30 months when Moh's micrographic surgery was compared to surgery for high risk facial BCCs, (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.16 to 2.64). One study of methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL PDT) versus cryotherapy found no significant difference in recurrences in the MAL PDT group when compared to cryotherapy at one year (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.12). Cryotherapy showed no significant difference in recurrences at one year when compared to surgery on one small study. When radiotherapy was compared to cryotherapy there were significantly fewer recurrences at one year in the radiotherapy group compared to the cryotherapy group.

Short-term studies suggest a success rate of 87 to 88% for imiquimod in the treatment of superficial BCC using a once-daily regimen for 6 weeks and a 76% treatment response when treating nodular BCC for 12 weeks, when measured histologically.

Authors' conclusions:

Overall there has been very little good quality research on treatments for BCC. Most trials have only evaluated BCCs in low risk locations. Surgery and radiotherapy appear to be the most effective treatments with surgery showing the lowest failure rates. Although cosmetic outcomes appear good with PDT, long-term follow-up data are needed. Other treatments might have some use but few have been compared to surgery. An ongoing study comparing imiquimod to surgery should clarify whether imiquimod is a useful option.

This record should be cited as:

Bath-Hextall FJ, Perkins W, Bong J, Williams HC. Interventions for basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD003412. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003412.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

November 9, 2006

Find the research

Get full text at The Cochrane Library

Primary Review Group:

Skin Group

Health topics:

Cancer > Skin > Non-melanoma cancer & pre-cancer

Skin > Tumours & cysts > Non-melanoma cancer & pre-cancer

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Interventions for basal cell carcinoma of the skin

More like this

Copyright © 2011 - The Cochrane Collaboration