title: Methylaminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in the treatment of erythroplasia of Queyrat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erythroplasia of Queyrat (EQ) is an intra-epithelial carcinoma of the penis. Progression to invasive carcinoma may occur. Its cause is unknown but some evidence suggests infection with human papillomavirus in the pathogenesis of EQ; however, recent data do not confirm this. Therapy is difficult and associated with important recurrence rates. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employs a photosensitizer excited by visible light. The resulting photodynamic reaction selectively destroys atypical cells. Only few reports exist on the use of topical PDT in the treatment of EQ.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report 11 cases of EQ treated by topical methylaminolaevulinic acid (MAL) PDT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 11 male patients with EQ treated by topical MAL-PDT, 3 achieved complete remission sustained for 24 and 51 months and 4 a partial remission sustained for 2-45 months with a follow-up period of 4-45 months (1 patient lost to follow-up); surprisingly, 2 of the 4 patients with partial remission presented a complete remission after 20 and 45 months of follow-up, respectively, without further therapy. Four patients showed progression of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas topical MAL-PDT offers the advantages of tumour specificity, preservation of function and a good cosmetic result, side effects may cause treatment discontinuation in some cases. Treatment of EQ with PDT may represent a valuable option in selected cases, but our data do not allow considering it as a first-line therapeutic option.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. laurence.feldmeyer@usz.ch
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feldmeyer
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krausz-Enderlin
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Töndury
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: Lars E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Günther F L
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004919:Erythroplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid