[Topical photodynamic therapy in cutaneous oncology].
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photodynamic chemotherapy is a new therapeutic two-step procedure consisting of an administration of a photosensitizer followed by light irradiation. PDT has been used for the treatment of cutaneous malignancies and offers the advantage over surgery of being a selective and non-invasive approach. The authors present a review of Medline-indexed experiences and trials of topical PDT in cutaneous oncology, and, by the way, remind anatomoclinical features of non-melanoma skin cancers. Complete response rates and cosmetic outcome after topical PDT with 5-aminolevulinic acid are encouraging and enable from now to consider this promising procedure as a new effective approach to manage skin cancers, particularily superficial and extensive lesions including actinic keratoses, superficial basocellular carcinomas and Bowen's disease.
Vereecken
P
P
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Erasme, U.L.B.
Laporte
M
M
Awada
A
A
Velu
T
T
Heenen
M
M
D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*