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Treatment of basalioma

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
 
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Treatment of basalioma is selected in each specific case. Before prescribing treatment, the size of the neoplasm, its location, and the degree of its invasion into adjacent tissues are taken into account.

If the tumor reappears, previous treatment, concomitant diseases, and age are taken into account.

Basalioma or basal cell carcinoma is a malignant skin tumor. The disease has all the main signs of a malignant tumor - it grows into adjacent tissues, destroys their structure, but unlike other types of cancer, it practically does not metastasize. Basalioma grows quite slowly (several years). Basalioma most often grows on the face, can be multiple or single, but after removal or treatment there is no 100% guarantee that the tumor will not appear again.

Superficial basalioma looks like a round or oval spot with a pinkish tint.

Basalioma usually develops after forty years. A predisposing factor to the development of the tumor is frequent and prolonged exposure to the sun, in connection with this, southern residents are more likely to face this problem. It is also noted that basalioma develops in fair-skinned people more often than in dark-skinned people. In addition, contact with carcinogens and toxic substances (arsenic, petroleum products, etc.), frequent injuries to the same area of the skin, burns, ionizing radiation, decreased immunity can provoke the development of a tumor, but it is extremely rare to encounter a congenital form of basalioma.

In the vast majority of cases, the tumor develops on the face or neck, i.e. in those areas that are most exposed to the external environment. The first manifestations begin with a small pinkish nodule on the skin, very similar to an ordinary pimple. Over time, the nodule becomes larger and does not cause any inconvenience at all. Over time, a gray crust appears in the center of the neoplasm, after removal of which a depression remains, and after a while the crust forms again. Basalioma is characterized by the appearance of a dense ridge around the formation, which is clearly visible when the skin is stretched. As basalioma grows, it begins to form new nodules, which then merge with each other. A vascular "star" may appear around the tumor, an ulcer with subsequent scarring may sometimes appear in the center of the neoplasm. An advanced disease process leads to the fact that the overgrown basalioma grows into adjacent tissues, in particular bones, cartilage, which can cause severe pain.

Basal cell carcinoma treatment methods

Treatment of basalioma depends on the size and location of the tumor, the patient’s age, and concomitant diseases.

There are currently several fairly effective methods of treating basal cell carcinoma:

  • operative (surgical removal of the tumor). This method is used when the tumor re-forms after radiation therapy or in advanced processes;
  • Radiation therapy – effective for primary skin cancer;
  • drug therapy is used when the tumor is located in a place inaccessible to radiation therapy or surgery. Cytostatic drugs are used for treatment, but such treatment is not always effective;
  • the combined method is one of the most effective methods of re-formation of basalioma, its principle is preliminary irradiation and then excision of the neoplasm;
  • cryodestruction is the main method of treating most neoplasms, which involves cauterizing the tumor with liquid nitrogen;
  • Laser therapy is effective for small tumors.

Treatment of basalioma of the facial skin

Basalioma usually occurs on exposed parts of the body. About 80% of tumors develop on the face, mainly on the forehead, nose, eyes, temples, and ears.

Treatment for basal cell carcinoma depends primarily on the stage and its location.

When the tumor is small, surgical removal of the neoplasm is most often used. X-ray irradiation, which is most often prescribed as the main treatment for small tumors, but can also be included in complex treatment, also has a fairly positive therapeutic effect.

Cryogenic destruction shows a good therapeutic effect, when the tumor is exposed to low temperatures (freezed), most often liquid nitrogen is used. This method is painless and has virtually no complications.

If basalioma is detected in a timely manner, treatment is effective in almost 100% of cases.

Treatment of basalioma of the nose

After diagnosis, treatment of basalioma should be started immediately, since in advanced cases the therapy process becomes more difficult.

Modern medicine carries out therapy in several ways. However, surgical and cryogenic treatment are considered the most effective.

Doctors consider cryogenic treatment to be the most delicate solution to the problem, since the process does not tear a person away from their usual way of life and after treatment there are practically no scars left on the skin.

Treatment of basal cell carcinoma with radiation therapy

Treatment of basalioma with radiation therapy is usually well tolerated by patients. However, this therapy, like others, has a number of side effects, in particular, a local reaction of healthy tissue in the irradiated area may occur. The occurrence of radiation reactions can be largely influenced by the general condition of the patient.

Typically, acute skin reactions are manifested by erythema and dry epidermitis, which do not require discontinuation of therapy and in most cases resolve on their own or require local treatment.

Radiation therapy is often accompanied by various complications (trophic ulcers, cataracts, conjunctivitis, headaches, etc.), which are observed in 18% of cases. When complications occur, symptomatic treatment, hemostimulating agents, etc. are prescribed. Radiation therapy for the sclerosing form of neoplasm, scars and fistulas shows extremely low efficiency.

Laser treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Laser treatment of basalioma has a number of advantages compared to other methods.

First of all, this is a painless procedure, sterility, and contactlessness.

This method virtually eliminates relapse. In addition, no visible marks remain on the skin.

Laser treatment is quite effective at the initial stages of development or with small tumor sizes. Laser is also the most optimal method of therapy when the tumor is located in a hard-to-reach place (behind the ear, in the corner of the eye, etc.).

However, this method has a number of contraindications, which are primarily associated with skin damage.

Laser treatment is also contraindicated in chronic diseases, in particular oncology, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, acute infectious diseases, and thyroid dysfunction. This method is not used during pregnancy or in cases of increased sensitivity to light.

Currently, a special laser called “Lancet” is used for laser therapy, which allows the removal of a neoplasm within healthy tissue in just one procedure.

Surgical treatment of basalioma

Surgical treatment of basalioma is usually carried out when the tumor is malignant.

Surgery is also indicated for fairly large tumors. Excision is performed within the boundaries of healthy tissue, usually 1-2 cm from the edge of the basalioma. After surgery, a mandatory histological examination of the removed tumor and skin is performed to ensure complete removal of the neoplasm. Surgery is also performed when the tumor has metastasized to other organs, but in this case, several treatment methods are combined to achieve maximum effect.

Modern medicine allows you to remove a tumor and leave virtually no marks on the skin.

Treatment of basalioma with folk remedies

Treating basalioma with folk remedies can significantly slow down the growth of the tumor, and it is also an excellent addition to surgical or medicinal methods.

An ointment prepared from herbs is very effective: burdock and celandine (¼ cup each).

Dry raw materials are poured with pork fat (hot) and left to simmer in the oven for two hours. After that, the mixture is filtered and left to infuse for 2-3 days at room temperature, then the mixture can be used: the ointment is applied three times a day to the tumor.

Fresh celandine juice, which is used to treat the tumor, has a good healing effect. You can also use a decoction of the plant (a glass of boiling water and 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh celandine leaves, leave for 20-30 minutes and strain), which is taken three times a day, 1/3 cup. When taking the decoction, you should strictly follow the dosage, since celandine has a toxic effect. Within 24 hours, the decoction loses all its beneficial properties, so you need to make a new portion every day.

The plant golden mustache, widely known in folk medicine, effectively helps to cope with skin neoplasms. For treatment, a tampon soaked in the juice of the plant is applied to the affected area of the skin for 24 hours.

Photodynamic therapy for basal cell carcinoma

Photodynamic treatment of basalioma is prescribed for formations of various sizes, multiple or single lesions, primary or recurrent processes, ulcerative forms, and when other methods of therapy have proven ineffective. With this method, basalioma is cured in 92% of cases. Contraindication to photodynamic therapy is increased individual sensitivity to light.

One of the important advantages of this method is the implementation of point treatment using local photosensitizers, due to which the patient does not have to comply with the light regime.

Photodynamic therapy is based on the ability of light-sensitive drugs (alasens, fotalon, etc.) to increase the skin's susceptibility to solar or artificial ultraviolet rays. Photosensitizing substances (light-sensitive) accumulate in the tumor and have a toxic effect on the tumor cells after exposure to light. In addition, this treatment method damages the blood vessels that feed the tumor. Tumors absorb and retain various photosensitizers well, and when exposed to light, healthy tissues surrounding the tumor are damaged insignificantly.

Cryogenic treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Currently, the most effective and safe method of treating basal cell carcinoma is considered to be cryogenic. The principle of therapy is freezing the neoplasm with subsequent destruction under local anesthesia.

Cryogenic treatment of basalioma does not take a person away from his normal lifestyle, and the recovery period after treatment does not take much time and effort.

Since the tumor begins to develop from open parts of the body (usually the face is affected), it is cryogenic treatment that allows achieving the maximum cosmetic effect (after the procedure, barely noticeable scars remain on the skin).

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Basalioma treatment in Israel

Israeli oncology clinics accept residents of many countries, since in Israel, even patients recognized as hopeless, get a chance for successful treatment. Israeli medicine in the field of treatment of oncological diseases occupies one of the leading positions in the world.

First Medical Center Tel Aviv diagnoses and provides follow-up treatment for basal cell carcinoma.

First of all, specialists take suspicious areas of skin for histological examination; if necessary, additional types of examinations are prescribed to help determine the process of metastasis.

Currently, specialists recognize that surgical treatment of basalioma is the most effective. In addition to classical tumor excision, the First Medical Center of Tel Aviv performs cryodestruction (freezing followed by removal), electrocoagulation (cauterization with high-frequency electric current), and treatment using combination therapy.

Radiation therapy may be used in addition to the main treatment.

The optimal treatment for a malignant skin tumor will be selected by specialists depending on the location and size of the tumor, the stage of the process, and the condition of the adjacent skin.

The Izmed Coordination Center uses cryogenic therapy, surgical, laser tumor removal, radiotherapy, and cytostatic drugs. It is recommended to start the surgical method when the tumor size is still small enough and is located on the body or limbs. The surgical intervention is performed under local anesthesia, during which the tumor is removed layer by layer.

In case of repeated development of basalioma, large tumor sizes, and tumor location on the face, surgical treatment is used according to the Mohs method, which allows performing the operation with minimal aesthetic defects and almost completely eliminates relapses. This method shows complete recovery in 98% of cases.

The Institute of Oncology at the Assuta Clinic successfully treats basalioma.

In treatment, the clinic's oncologists prefer photodynamic therapy, electrocoagulation, and cryodestruction.

The electrocoagulation method is used mainly as the final stage of curettage (scraping out the tumor) to prevent blood loss and finally destroy pathogenic cells.

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