title: Swiss clinical practice guidelines on field cancerization of the skin.
abstract: Actinic keratosis (AK) affects millions of people worldwide, and its prevalence continues to increase. AK lesions are caused by chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure, and the presence of two or more AK lesions along with photodamage should raise the consideration of a diagnosis of field cancerization. Effective treatment of individual lesions as well as field cancerization is essential for good long-term outcomes. The Swiss Registry of Actinic Keratosis Treatment (REAKT) Working Group has developed clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of field cancerization in patients who present with AK. These guidelines are intended to serve as a resource for physicians as to the most appropriate treatment and management of AK and field cancerization based on current evidence and the combined practical experience of the authors. Treatment of AK and field cancerization should be driven by consideration of relevant patient, disease, and treatment factors, and appropriate treatment decisions will differ from patient to patient. Prevention measures and screening recommendations are discussed, and special considerations related to management of immunocompromised patients are provided.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Klinik, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie/Allergologie, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anliker
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie et Vénéréologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolf-Henning
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Boehncke
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Abteilung, Kantonsspital Luzern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Klinik, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie et Vénéreologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gaide
authors.affiliation: Dermatologische Klinik, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hunger
authors.affiliation: Dermatologie, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Itin
authors.affiliation: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaeuper
authors.affiliation: Dermatologisches Ambulatorium, Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
authors.affiliation: Dermatologia, Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona e Valli, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mainetti
authors.affiliation: Dermatologie/Allergologie, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streit
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003020:Clothing; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017679:Cryotherapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents