Topical photodynamic therapy using intense pulsed light for treatment of actinic keratosis: clinical and histopathologic evaluation.
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.
Kim
Hyung Su
HS
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yoo
Jong Yeop
JY
Cho
Kwang Hyun
KH
Kwon
Oh Sang
OS
Moon
Sang Eun
SE
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
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid