Laser Treatment for Skin Cancer: A New Era of Precision and Minimal Scarring

Non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell or BCC and squamous cell or SCC) are the most common of all cancers seen in Australia. Over 1 million treatments are performed annually for them, the majority being surgical removal, with a much smaller number of alternate treatments such as the application of topical chemotherapy creams, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Recent studies have supported the use of laser treatment as an alternative in cases where a patient declines or is unsuitable for surgery.

Sharon et al. (2021) conducted a meta-analysis of YAG laser treatment for BCC (4755 cases) and SCC (214 cases) and found a very low recurrence rate (3.1%) over an extended follow-up period of some years. Scarring and pigment loss rates from the laser treatment were also low.

The mechanism of action of this type of laser treatment is thought to relate to its ability to target the blood supply of the skin cancer.

Whilst laser treatment will not replace surgery for most skin cancers, it does provide a useful alternative in some cases.

By Dr David Main

Sharon E, Snast I, Lapidoth M, Kaftory R, Mimouni D, Hodak E, Levi A. Laser Treatment for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2021 Jan;22(1):25-38. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00562-8. PMID: 32930983.