Electrodesiccation and Curettage

ED&C is generally reserved for more superficial skin lesions. These include:

• Seborrheic keratoses
• Viral warts
• Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (non-invasive squamous cell carcinoma)
• Pyogenic granuloma
• Actinic keratoses
• Basal cell carcinomas
• Skin tags

The procedure visit starts with a consultation with Dr. Thomas Knackstedt. As an experienced dermatologist, Dr. Knackstedt will review the nature of your skin growth, explain the reasons an ED&C treatment is recommended, outline the procedure, and discuss the expected recovery with you in detail.

The procedure begins with the administration of local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the skin growth, ensuring your comfort throughout the procedure. The target lesion is then treated with an electric needle to heat and dry (‘sicca’ – desiccate) the tissue allowing for the easy scraping off of the growth (curettage). This cycle of curetting and electrocautery may be repeated several times (usually one to three) until your board-certified dermatologist feels confident the lesion is completely removed. Given the shallow nature of this procedure, the resulting wound is allowed to heal on its own and stitches are not required.

ED&C is considered a “blind” procedure. In most cases, no specimen is sent to the pathologist. This means that the tumor outline and safety margins are estimated by the board-certified dermatologist using the curette to feel for normal versus affected tissue. This procedure should only be done by experts with a high level of training as inexperienced practitioners have been shown to have higher rates of recurrence (the growth coming back) in several key studies.

Whenever the skin is broken or incised into, there will always be a scar. Careful technique minimizes scarring. ED&C procedures generally heal with a round scar that is usually similar in size to the original lesion and flush with the surrounding skin surface. At times, the scar may be slightly depressed or elevated relative to the surrounding skin.

Your wound may be tender 1-2 hours after the excision when the local anesthetic wears off. Most often, only over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) is all that is needed. Icepacks also help with pain reduction and decrease swelling or bruising.