Studio istologico e follow-up clinico di carcinomi basocellulari trattati con terapia chirurgica

The study focused attention on the cost-effectiveness among the most popular methods used for removal of basal cell carcinomas: surgical resection and photodynamic therapy. From data it is clear that surgical removal is the most effective method for reducing the frequency of relapses (4.7%) compared to photodynamic therapy (6%). This figure is valid only for superficial carcinomas; for nodular carcinomas frequency of recurrence with photodynamic therapy turns out to be higher (35%). Surgery is a method more expensive than the photodynamic. The variable pain is less with surgery than the photodynamic therapy. The aesthetic result is rather better for photodynamic therapy compared to surgery. The costs however are higher for surgical therapy. One final consideration remains: photodynamic therapy sometimes requires reoperation after months or years and so this choice involves additional costs.