An Update on Laser Therapy for Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer worldwide with more than two million cases diagnosed annually in the United States. Although this tumor grows slowly and rarely metastasizes, it can cause significant destruction of local tissue and result in cosmetic and functional morbidity. Standard treatments for BCC include surgical excision, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, cryosurgery, electrodessication and curettage, and topical modalities. Surgical treatments often result in disfigurement, while topical therapies frequently result in recurrence. Thus, there is a need for alternative non-surgical options that are effective and have a lower risk of side effects than existing therapies. This has led to the investigation of laser therapy for the treatment of BCC.