title: Observational study of chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis treated with methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapies used to treat chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis (CNH), such as surgical excision, pressure relief, or topical steroids report varying degrees of success.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the response and safety of methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) photodynamic therapy (PDT) in CNH.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, observational study performed at the University Hospital Ramon y Cajal (Madrid, Spain) and Hospital San Jorge (Huesca, Spain) included all patients diagnosed with CNH and treated with MAL-PDT from 2008 to 2015. Treatment sites were prepared and irradiated as per the conventional MAL-PDT procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients underwent a mean of 2.3 sessions with between-session intervals ranging from 15 days to 1 month. A complete response to PDT was observed in 33 patients (76.7%), who experienced pain relief and resolution of the inflammatory nodule. Lesion recurrence was recorded in 10 patients (23.3%) during the mean follow-up period of 20 months. Receiving ≥2 PDT sessions was significantly associated with a good response (26/28, 93% success rate, P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some limitations of the study are the lack of an established between-session interval, the absence of evaluation of curettage effectiveness and the limited sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support the view that PDT is a promising treatment approach for CNH.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, San Jorge Hospital, Huesca, Spain. Electronic address: ajgarciamalinis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Julia
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: García-Malinis
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turrión-Merino
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pérez-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saceda-Corralo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harto-Castaño
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, San Jorge Hospital, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gilaberte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004425:Ear Cartilage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid
keywords: chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis; methyl-aminolevulinate; photodynamic therapy; pressure relief; surgery; topical nitroglycerin