title: Seborrheic keratoses: a study comparing the standard cryosurgery with topical calcipotriene, topical tazarotene, and topical imiquimod.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with seborrheic keratoses frequently desire an effective topical therapy for seborrheic keratoses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare topical calcipotriene, topical tazarotene, and topical imiquimod with standard cryosurgery in the treatment of seborrheic keratoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with numerous seborrheic keratoses were enrolled in an open-label study comparing cryosurgery with topical agents. Eight separate seborrheic keratoses were selected to be treated with topical medications. One lesion was treated with cryosurgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One treatment with cryosurgery led to clinical and histological improvement of all lesions treated. Neither scarring nor recurrence resulted in cryosurgery. In seven of 15 patients, tazarotene 0.1% cream applied BID caused clinical improvement in lesions within 16 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryosurgery produces clinical and histological improvement of seborrheic keratoses. The result with cryosurgery was cosmetically acceptable to all patients. Responders to tazarotene cream 0.1% found it cosmetically acceptable.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. mherron@derm.med.utah.edu
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Herron
authors.forename: Anneli R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Gerald G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Krueger
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012176:Retinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D012176:Retinoids; C055085:calcipotriene; C086827:tazarotene; D002117:Calcitriol; D000077271:Imiquimod