A Case of Basal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Combination of CO2 Laser and 5% Imiquimod Cream / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer and surgical treatments like Mohs surgery have been accepted as ideal for it. Although surgical treatments are very effective, non-invasive treatments such as electrocauterization, cryosurgery, CO2 laser and topical 5-fluorouracil cream have been tried because patients need more simple procedures and better cosmetic results. Imiquimod is a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist and which acts as an immune response modifier by inducing several cytokines including interferon. Previously, many reports showed the usefulness of 5% imiquimod cream in treating basal cell carcinoma. However, some local adverse effects, long treatment time and limitation of deep penetration are problems to be resolved. We tried 5% imiquimod cream application after the removal of a visible basal cell carcinoma using CO2 laser, which gave satisfactory results.