Photodynamic therapy using methyl aminolevulinate acid in eyelid basal cell carcinoma: a 5-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate retrospectively the long-term results of methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy for the treatment of eyelid basal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Sixteen consecutive patients with eyelid basal cell carcinoma were treated with methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy between January 2002 and April 2003. Selection criteria were tumors located at least 3 mm from the tarsus, surgery not indicated because of poor general health, and recurrences with unclear location definition. Patients were treated with an 80-J cm light-emitting diode light source (632 nm) after topical application of methyl aminolevulinate cream and occlusion for 4 hours. Data were available for follow-up at day 1, week 1, month 1, and every 6 months for 5 years.


RESULTS
The mean number of photodynamic therapy session per patient was 3.1 (range, 2-6) Complete clinical recovery was observed after the 5-year follow-up in 13 of 16 patients (82%). Two patients did not respond at all to treatment and 1 patient presented with recurrence after 3 years of tumor-free follow-up. Tolerance of treatment was good with few side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of complications, good tolerance, and a notable success rate make this nonsurgical procedure promising for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid in selected patients.
Puccioni
Marco
M
Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Santoro
Nicola
N
Giansanti
Fabrizio
F
Ucci
Francesca
F
Rossi
Riccardo
R
Lotti
Torello
T
Menchini
Ugo
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid