title: Efficacy of topical photodynamic therapy for keratoacanthomas: a case-series of four patients.
abstract: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an excellent treatment option for various non-melanoma skin cancers and precancerous lesions, including actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and basal cell carcinoma. The clinical use of PDT includes a broad range of neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious skin diseases. There is also anecdotal evidence suggesting the efficacy of PDT for the treatment of keratoacanthomas (KA). We report a case-series of four patients with solitary KA confirmed by histology, treated with topical PDT with methylaminolevulinic acid (MAL) cream. After three sessions of PDT, the lesions completely disappeared. There was no evidence of recurrence and excellent cosmetic outcome was achieved after three years of follow-up. Topical photodynamic therapy with MAL can be a therapeutic alternative for KA with good clinical and cosmetic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. mmfarias@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasson
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Isidora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia-Huidobro
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid