Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of unilesional mycosis fungoides: a report of two cases and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Unilesional mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), characterized clinically by a solitary lesion and by histopathological features indistinguishable from multilesional MF. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and effective treatment of precancerous lesions and non-melanoma skin cancers. In recent years it has been used successfully for the treatment of MF.


METHODS
We present two cases of unilesional MF treated with 5-Aminolevulinic acid-PDT (ALA-PDT). We used twenty per cent ALA, applied topically to the lesion, and a well defined laser irradiation at 585 nm wavelength from C-Beam laser. Treatment was repeated three times at monthly intervals. Skin biopsies were taken before and after therapy.


RESULTS
Both patients showed clinical remission. The biopsies confirmed a regression of the infiltrate after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT is effective and can be used successfully for MF treatment, particularly for patch and plaque stage MF, including unilesional MF.
Recio
Esther Díez
ED
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Alcala de Henares University, Guadalajara, Spain. ediez@sescam.jccm.es
Zambrano
Belen
B
Alonso
Maria Luisa
ML
de Eusebio
Esther
E
Martín
Manuel
M
Cuevas
Jesús
J
Jaén
Pedro
P
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid