title: The efficacy of photodynamic therapy in actinic cheilitis of the lower lip: a prospective study of 15 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been developed into a widely used method to treat actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma. OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the efficacy of PDT in the treatment of actinic cheilitis of the lower lip.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, uncontrolled study at a university dermatology department, 15 patients with actinic cheilitis received two sessions of PDT of the lower lip at an interval of 1 week using methylaminoxopentanoate and red light. Clinical and histopathologic evaluation was performed 3 months after therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete clinical cure was observed in 47% (7/15) and partial cure in another 47% (7/15) of the patients. By histopathologic analysis, residual disease was found in 62% (8/13). Cosmetic results and patients' satisfaction were good to excellent in most cases. Local pain was sufficiently controlled by local anesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT can be an effective noninvasive method to treat actinic cheilitis of the lower lip.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. Carola.Berking@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berking
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herzinger
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flaig
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Degitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid