Recommendations on the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma prepared by the Oncology Department of the Polish Dermatology Society and the Melanoma Academy Department of the Polish Society of Oncological Surgery

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most frequent malignant neoplasms among Caucasian patients. Despite the fact that they seldom metastasise and are not directly fatal, they constitute a significant clinical issue. Such cancers infiltrate surrounding tissues and destroy the surrounding structures, e.g. bones and cartilages, as a result of which such structures develop into severe aesthetic defects and significantly deteriorate the life quality of the patients. Among patients from the high-risk group (namely patients under chronic immunosuppression or those genetically predisposed to develop UV-induced skin cancers) skin cancers may be aggressive and fatal. The Oncology Department of the Polish Dermatology Society (Polish: Sekcja Onkologiczna Polskiego Towarzystwa Dermatologicznego — PTD) and the Melanoma Academy Department of the Polish Society of Oncological Surgery (Polish: Sekcja Akademia Czerniaka Polskiego Towarzystwa Chirurgii Onkologicznej — PTChO), based on the current European guidelines, American recommendations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (revision 1.2015), and interventional reviews of publications elaborated by the Cochrane Skin Group, attempted to systemise the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and determine homogenous rules of primary and secondary prevention in patients suspected/diagnosed with a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. This paper presents actual recommendations regarding skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, taking all related benefits and challenges into consideration, as well as recommendations for post-treatment patient monitoring.