Comparative Analysis of US Guidelines for the Management of Cutaneous Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Table 5
Management of primary tumor with curative intent: nonsurgical treatments.
Treatment
AAD
NCCN
ASTRO
Narrative
LOE
SOR
Narrative
COE
Narrative
QOE
SOR
SCC
Beyond the scope of ASTRO guidelines
Imiquimod
Not recommended
III
C
Not recommended
5-Fluorouracil
Not recommended
III
C
Not recommended
Photodynamic therapy
Not recommended
II
B
Not recommended
Laser therapy
Not recommended
III
C
Not recommended
Cryosurgery
Only for low-risk tumors where other effective treatments are contraindicated
II
B
Not recommended
BCC
Imiquimod
Reserved for low-risk tumors where other definitive treatments are contraindicated
I
A
Not routinely recommended but consider for low-risk BCC where other more effective treatments are contraindicated
5-Fluorouracil
I, II
B
Photodynamic therapy
I, II
A
Cryosurgery
I
A
AAD: American Academy of Dermatology (Reference #[9, 11]), NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (Reference #[13]), ASTRO: American Society of Radiation Oncology (Reference #[12]), LOE: level of evidence, QOE: quality of evidence, SOR: strength of recommendation, and COE: category of evidence.