A Case Report of Eyebrow Basal Cell Carcinoma Successfully Treated with 5% Imiquimod Cream

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the skin. Periorbital basal cell carcinoma needs to be treated for cosmetic improvement and prevention of intraorbital invasion. Although surgical excision is a standard treatment, nonsurgical treatment using imiquimod cream, a topical immunomodulator, has been attempted. The authors report the first case of periorbital basal cell carcinoma successfully treated with imiquimod cream; to the best of our knowledge, similar cases have not been published to date in the Korean ophthalmology journals. CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old female visited our hospital for treatment of a biopsy-proven basal cell carcinoma in the right eyebrow. A flat, elevated, 1 x 1 cm-sized mass having central indentation was observed in the centromedial area of the right eyebrow. She was treated with 5% imiquimod cream once daily at night, 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Eight weeks after the treatment with imiquimod cream was discontinued, the mass was flattened and the cilia began to grow on the mass site. Under the impression of a partial regression, an additional 4 weeks of application was recommended. The mass disappeared more and her eyebrow became more normal. At the final follow-up 31 months after treatment, her right eyebrow appeared normal. CONCLUSIONS: Imiquimod cream may be a useful medication which can be used for complex periorbital basal cell carcinomas that are difficult to reconstruct after resection or surgical candidates with poor general condition.