title: Subungual Bowen's disease treated by topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy.
abstract: A 66-year-old man presented with an 18-month history of progressive nail dystrophy involving his left index finger. A diagnostic biopsy specimen confirmed the clinical suggestion of subungual Bowen's disease (carcinoma in situ). Various treatment options were considered, and the decision was made to treat with photodynamic therapy using topical 5-aminolevulunic acid administered as two treatments 4 weeks apart. The patient was reviewed 3 months after treatment and then regularly at 6-month intervals. Thirty months after treatment there remained no clinical evidence of recurrence of the condition with preservation of a normal nail unit. Although the successful treatment of cutaneous Bowen's disease with photodynamic therapy is well documented, this is the first report of the successful treatment of subungual Bowen's disease using topical aminolevulunic acid-photodynamic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Dermatology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom. nailausmani@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Naila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Usmani
authors.forename: Graeme I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Stables
authors.forename: Nick R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Telfer
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid