title: Topical photodynamic therapy using intense pulsed light for treatment of actinic keratosis: clinical and histopathologic evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is suitable for the treatment of actinic keratosis, and, recently, topical PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source has been reported. However, evaluations of its therapeutic effects have been clinically based.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to confirm the histopathologic resolution of actinic keratosis treated by topical PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve actinic keratosis lesions in seven patients were treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid-PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source. After a single treatment, the clinical response was assessed and histopathologic examinations were performed on clinically resolved lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of 12 (50%) lesions showed clinical clearance after a single treatment, but histologic examinations showed that only 5 of the 12 (42%) lesions had been removed. No complications, such as pigmentary changes or scarring, were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense pulsed light is potentially an effective light source for PDT. However, the determination of complete remission in actinic keratosis requires caution, and long-term follow-up or histologic confirmation may be required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Yeop
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Oh Sang
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid