title: Neoadjuvant use of photodynamic therapy in Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the face.
abstract: Background. This preliminary study sought to determine the success of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in reducing lesion size in an effort to assess the potential application of this treatment approach in a neoadjuvant role. Objectives. To quantify the effects of PDT on lesion area (mm(2)) for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the face. Results. Eighteen participants (10 BCC lesions and 8 SCC lesions of the face) were assessed. Four lesions (all from the BCC group) showed a complete response to PDT. Of the remaining 14 lesions, 85.7% (n = 12) showed reductions in lesion area, while two lesions showed increase in lesion area. Proportional reductions for the 12 lesions that did not demonstrate complete response or an increase in area following-PDT were found to range from 13.2% to 85.1% (BCC) and 6.7% to 89.7% (SCC). Conclusions. PDT as a neoadjuvant treatment may provide a simple, efficient, and viable approach to reducing the area of malignant lesions of the face with the advantage of reduced cosmetic and aesthetic morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5W9.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jeremic
authors.forename: Corey C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Doyle