Imiquimod: an effective alternative for the treatment of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Some patients with invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are either not adequate surgical candidates or present with lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas in which a surgical procedure might result in an apparent and/or a cosmetically unacceptable scar.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in the nose of a young man.


METHODS
Imiquimod 5% cream was applied to the lesion five times a week for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Complete clinicopathologic tumor clearance and an excellent cosmetic result were achieved after 12 weeks of imiquimod treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Imiquimod 5% cream may represent a reasonably effective alternative for the management of invasive squamous cell carcinoma in selected patients.
Martín-García
Rafael F
RF
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico. martin-mubarak@aol.com
D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod