title: Efficacy of intralesional bleomycin for the treatment of plantar hard corns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intralesional bleomycin is effective for the treatment of various dermatologic conditions. However, the efficacy of intralesional bleomycin for the treatment of corns has not been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 patients with plantar corns were recruited and equally divided between groups A and B. Groups A and B were then treated with intralesional bleomycin (1 mg/ml) after paring the hyperkeratotic tissue and simple paring, respectively. The patients visited our clinic at 3-week intervals and were treated for a maximum of 10 sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in groups A and B were treated for 35 and 29 corns, respectively. The curative rates of the patients in groups A and B were 37% (13 of 35) and 7% (three of 29), respectively. The proportions of lesions in groups A and B that demonstrated a decrease in size by >50% were 80% (28 of 35) and 38% (11 of 29), respectively. The total number of patients that demonstrated excellent symptomatic improvement in group A was 15 of 22. Excellent responses were achieved within a small number of treatment sessions, ranging from one to four sessions (average: 2.6). Statistical differences in terms of the degree of size reduction and pain relief were noted between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that intralesional bleomycin (1 mg/ml) injection could be one of the ideal treatments for corn. Intralesional bleomycin is particularly useful for reducing lesional pain and size within a short period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Armed Forces Hongcheon Hospital, Hongcheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Mi Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jee Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kee Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002145:Callosities / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin