Successful treatment of actinic keratosis with imiquimod cream 5%: a report of six cases.
BACKGROUND
Actinic keratoses (AK) are premalignant lesions, which are routinely treated by destructive procedures such as cryotherapy, electrodessication or topical 5-fluorouracil.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to report six cases of AK treated with a potential new topical therapy, imiquimod.


METHODS
Subjects included in this study had suffered with recurrent AK for between 5 and 16 years. All six men were treated with imiquimod 5% cream three times a week for 6-8 weeks. In the event of a local skin reaction treatment was modified to two times per week.


RESULTS
All the AK lesions were successfully cleared after treatment with imiquimod cream 5% for 6-8 weeks. Histologically, no apparent signs of persisting AK could be detected, and no recurrences were reported during follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that imiquimod may be useful as a new therapy for the treatment of actinic keratoses.
Stockfleth
E
E
Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Schittenhelmstrasse 7, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. E.Stockfleth@web.de
Meyer
T
T
Benninghoff
B
B
Christophers
E
E
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod