From the Research
Guidelines for Management of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) in Canada
The management of BCC in Canada involves various treatment options, including:
- Cryosurgery
- Curettage
- Topical or photodynamic approaches
- Fixed-margin surgery
- Mohs micrographic surgery 1 Risk stratification is based on clinical features, such as:
- Site and size of the tumour
- Histologic subtype (nodular vs sclerosing)
- History of recurrence 1
Treatment Options
Treatment options for BCC include:
- Surgery, which is the standard treatment for most BCCs, allowing for excision margin control and showing a low risk of recurrence 2
- Non-surgical methods, such as topical agents and superficially destructive modalities, which can be effective for superficial lesions 2, 3
- Systemic therapy, which may be considered for difficult-to-treat lesions 2, 4
Risk Stratification and Prognosis
The prognosis of BCC is linked to the risk of recurrence and local destructive capacity 2 Risk stratification is essential to determine the most appropriate therapeutic course 1, 3 The natural history and prognosis of BCCs are influenced by clinical features, such as tumour size, site, and histologic subtype 1
Updated Guidelines and Recommendations
Recent guidelines have updated the management of BCC, including recommendations for treatment modalities and follow-up care 2, 3, 4 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology provide recommended treatment modalities for BCC 4