Cure Rates of Superficial Basal Cell Carcinom (BCC) Following 1 Versus 3 Cycles of Electrodessication and Curettage (ED&C)

This is a prospective, randomized clinical trial conducted at the Unviersity of Wisconsin
(UW) Dermatology Clinic located at 1 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715. There are no
controls. Subjects meeting eligibility criteria are randomly divided into one of two
treatment groups (ED&C x 1 cycle or ED&C x 3 cycles) using computer generated random
numbers. One cycle of ED&C is defined according to standard technique currently employed. It
involves scraping away the tumor with a curette (ring- shaped instrument) and then burning
the curetted site with a small electric needle (electrodessication). During Visit 1, the
surgical site is marked, local numbing medication is injected, and 1 or 3 cycles of ED&C
is/are performed by board-certified dermatologists or a dermatology resident under the
direct supervision of a board certified dermatologist. All follow-up visits (3, 6, 9, and 12
months after Visit 1) include skin evaluations by the physician who performed the ED&C. The
lesion site is examined, measured, and photographed for clinical evidence of recurrence, as
defined by a new lesion within the previously treated site. If there is evidence of possible
tumor recurrence at the treated surgical site during Visit 2, 3, 4 or 5, then the lesion
will be biopsied using a shave procedure.