title: Topical methyl aminolaevulinate photodynamic therapy versus cryotherapy for superficial basal cell carcinoma: a 5 year randomized trial.
abstract: This multicentre, randomized study compared photodynamic therapy using topical methyl aminolaevulinate (MAL PDT), a non-invasive modality, with cryotherapy for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma. Sixty patients with 114 lesions were treated with MAL cream (160 mg/g) applied for 3 hours before illumination (570-670 nm, light dose 75 J/cm) (1 session), and 58 with 105 lesions received cryotherapy (2 freeze-thaw cycles). Patients with an incomplete response at 3 months received 2 further MAL PDT sessions (n = 20) or repeat cryotherapy (n = 16). 100 lesions treated with MAL PDT and 93 lesions treated with cryotherapy were in complete response at 3 months after the last treatment and evaluable for recurrence over 5 years. There was no difference in 5-year recurrence rates with either treatment (20% with cryotherapy vs. 22% with MAL PDT, p = 0.86). However, more patients had an excellent cosmetic outcome with MAL PDT (60% vs. 16% with cryotherapy, p = 0.00078). These results provide support for the use of MAL PDT as a non-invasive, selective treatment alternative for primary superficial basal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Service de dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France. nicole.basset-seguin@sls.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basset-Seguin
authors.forename: Sally H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ibbotson
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Emtestam
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarstedt
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maroti
authors.forename: Piergiacomo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Rik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roelandts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid