title: Photodynamic therapy for actinic cheilitis: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a premalignant lesion of the lips that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma and metastasize. Actinic cheilitis is difficult to treat because surgical treatments have significant adverse effects whereas less invasive procedures have uncertain efficacy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may offer a noninvasive yet effective treatment option for AC.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the safety and efficacy of PDT for AC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The terms "photodynamic," "actinic," "solar," "cheilitis," and "cheilosis" were used in combinations to search the PubMed database. Studies were considered for inclusion based on eligibility criteria, and specific data were extracted from all studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors identified 15 eligible case series encompassing a total of 242 treated subjects. Among studies that evaluated subjects for complete clinical response, 139 of 223 subjects (62%) showed complete response at final follow-ups ranging from 3 to 30 months. Among studies that evaluated subjects for histological outcome, 57 of 121 subjects (47%) demonstrated histological cure at final follow-ups ranging from 1.5 to 18 months. Cosmetic outcomes were good to excellent in the majority of subjects, and adverse events were well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photodynamic therapy is safe and has the potential to clinically and histologically treat AC, with a need for future randomized controlled trials.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
authors: Mohammad-Ali
authors: MA
authors: Yazdani Abyaneh
authors: Leyre
authors: L
authors: Falto-Aizpurua
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Griffith
authors: Keyvan
authors: K
authors: Nouri
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid