Routine double treatments of superficial basal cell carcinomas using aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy.
BACKGROUND
Superficial basal cell carcinomas of the skin (sBCC) often respond poorly to single-treatment aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT), with a number of reports indicating a relapse rate of 50% or more.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a second treatment at seven days can improve the response.


METHODS
Twenty-six lesions were treated twice with ALA-PDT, with an interval of 7 days between the two treatment sessions.


RESULTS
We observed a complete response rate of 100% 1 month after treatment. Only one lesion relapsed (16 months post-PDT), a relapse rate of 4% (median follow up 27 months; range 15-45 months). Cosmetic results were excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider routine double treatments with ALA-PDT to be an effective approach to the management of sBCC, particularly those located in anatomically difficult, or cosmetically sensitive, sites.
Haller
J C
JC
School of Medicine, Department of Colour Chemistry, Schools of Biomedical Sciences, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K.
Cairnduff
F
F
Slack
G
G
Schofield
J
J
Whitehurst
C
C
Tunstall
R
R
Brown
S B
SB
Roberts
D J
DJ
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D009824:Ointments; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011318:Prilocaine; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D008012:Lidocaine