HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Curettage and Electrosurgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Surgery Overview
Curettage is the process of scraping skin with a spoon-shaped instrument (curette) to remove skin tissue. Electrosurgery is the burning of skin tissue with an electric current that runs through a metal instrument or needle. Electrosurgery may be done after curettage to control bleeding and destroy any remaining cancer cells. The wound is then covered with an antibiotic dressing.
The skin is numbed with a Reference local anesthetic Opens New Window before the procedure. Curettage and electrosurgery may be repeated once or twice or may be combined with other procedures, such as Reference cryosurgery.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 2, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Amy McMichael, MD - Dermatology |
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