Treatment of Gorlin syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome) with methylaminolevulinate photodynamic therapy in seven patients, including two children: interest of tumescent anesthesia for pain control in children.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of methylaminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) in the treatment of multiple basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in adults and children with Gorlin syndrome (GS). DESIGN: Report of cases. SETTING: University of Montpellier, Department of Dermatology. PATIENTS: Seven Gorlin patients (41 superficial or nodular carcinomas), including two children. INTERVENTIONS: Prior superficial curettage for superficial BBCs or debulking for nodular BCCs was systematically performed. Methylaminolevulinic acid was applied topically to lesions 3 h before illumination with 635 nm red light for 10 min (37 J/cm(2)). To prevent treatment discomfort, analgesics and/or cooling by sprayed water were most often provided, and occasionally 1% lidocaine local anesthesia. A ropivacaine-lidocaine tumescent anesthesia was performed on the youngest patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The initial response rate; tolerance, particularly in children; cosmetic outcome. RESULTS: Overall clearance in patients was 60% after one session of MAL-PDT and 78% after three sessions. Resolution of the lesions was accompanied by an excellent cosmetic outcome in all patients. Treatments were well tolerated in adults with moderate pain sensation during illumination. In a child, tumescent anesthesia assured excellent tolerance in all treatment stages. CONCLUSION: We add our experience to previous articles that consider PDT as an interesting option in the treatment of GS. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of MAL-PDT in GS children using tumescent anesthesia. Specific guidelines for adult and pediatric patients remain to be established.

[Tattoos and dermatological, plastic and visceral surgery]. / Les tatouages et la chirurgie dermatologique, plastique et viscérale.

The estimated prevalence of tattooed individuals in Europe and in France is around 10%. The current "tattooed generation" was born mainly between 1975 and 1986, and according to a recent German study, the "typical tattooed" individual is a 30-year-old male or female with a mean tattooed area of 300 cm(2) or over in 61% of cases and more than one tattoo in 65% of cases. As this population gradually ages, physicians will be increasingly called on to treat tattooed areas, either for surgical removal of the tattoo itself or for excision of a suspect lesion or skin tumour, or for incision of the skin in a setting of either elective or emergency visceral surgery. This review focuses on the surgical situations potentially arising in tattooed patients.