ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effects of δ-aminolaevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in the treatment of primary carcinomas on the facial skin. Methods In the accordance of these tumors' sites and morphology, 14 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 38 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 5 patients with Bowen disease were given four to eight times of topical ALA followed by PDT. Results Ten (71.4%) SCC cases, 34 (89.5%) BCC cases and all (100%) Bowen disease cases completely recovered after ALA-PDT. The others all obtained signifi-cant improvement after final treatment. Their unaffected tissues around these tumors kept well and no scaring appeared after ALA-PDT. The recurrence rates among the completely-recovered cases were 10.0% (SCC), 11.8% (BCC) and 0% (Bowen disease), respectively, by the end of six-month's follow-up. Conclusions Topical ALA-PDT is an effective new therapeutical method with lower recur-rence rates, fewer side effects, no scar formation and excellent cosmetic results for primary carcinomas localizing on the facial skin.