Aggressive Curettage-Cryosurgery for Human Papillomavirus-16 Associated Subungual Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ is an uncommon tumour of the nail unit. Mohs micrographic surgery or wide surgical excision are often the preferred treatments. As an alternative therapy two patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 associated SCC in situ were treated by curettage-cryosurgery. After a careful curettage with different-sized curettes freezing with liquid nitrogen in a double freeze-thaw was performed. Both patients were treated successfully and healed completely within 3 months. No adverse events were observed during a follow-up of at least 5 years and no recurrences were noted. Curettage-cryosurgery might be a safe and non-resource-demanding alternative treatment for patients with subungual SCC in situ.