title: [Alternative to surgery in basal cell carcinoma in the elderly population: imiquimod 5% cream].
abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common non-melanoma skin cancer. The incidence of this entity increases with age, peaking at the age of 70 years. This study included 97 patients aged more than 65 years old, with a diagnosis of BCC. These patients were treated with imiquimod applied three times weekly for 6 weeks. Clinical remission was 67% after 10 weeks and was 49.5% after 1 year. Imiquimod is a highly interesting therapeutic modality in the elderly, in whom surgery is often contraindicated. This regimen eradicates a high percentage of tumors and reduces local adverse effects, which are poorly tolerated by aged skin.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Dermatología Hospital Clínico San Cecilio de Granada, España. salvadorarias@hotmail.es
authors.forename: Salvador Antonio
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Arias Santiago
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruiz Villaverde
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burkhardt Pérez
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naranjo Sintes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004304:Dosage Forms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004304:Dosage Forms; D000077271:Imiquimod