Evaluation of the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of actinic cheilitis.

INTRODUCTION: Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a lip intraepithelial neoplasia, whose cells present alterations similar to those presented by invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). OBJECTIVE: To conduct clinical and laboratory evaluation by histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the efficacy of actinic cheilitis treatment using photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) and noncoherent red light. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with actinic cheilitis detected by histopathological examination were submitted to two sessions of photodynamic therapy with a two-week interval between them. They were examined immediately after the sessions, four, six, and twelve weeks after beginning treatment when a new biopsy was carried out. Clinical histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Of the 23 patients who underwent biopsy, 16 completed two photodynamic therapy sessions and the material of one patient was insufficient for immunohistochemistry. Complete clinical response was achieved in 62.5% (10 of 16 patients) and 37.5% still remained with clinical evidence of AC. In spite of this, no case of cure by histopathological analysis was found. There was no significant statistical change among the values of Ki-67, survivin, and p53 observed before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy, as carried out in this trial, was not an efficacious therapeutic option for treating patients with actinic cheilitis included in this sample.

A pilot split-face study comparing conventional methyl aminolevulinate-photodynamic therapy (PDT) with microneedling-assisted PDT on actinically damaged skin.

BACKGROUND: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approved treatment for superficial nonmelanoma skin cancers. To enhance photosensitizer penetration into the epidermis, microneedling (MN) devices or ablative carbon dioxide lasers are combined with PDT. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of MN-assisted PDT with that of conventional PDT in human skin field cancerization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with multiple actinic keratoses (AKs) and photodamage were randomized to receive conventional methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) with previous gentle curettage on one side of the face and MAL-PDT combined with 1.5-mm-length MN on the other side after MAL application. After a 90-minute incubation, patients were illuminated with a red light-emitting diode and evaluated for improvement of photodamage, clearance of AKs, and side effects before and after 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: At day 30, global scores for photodamage, mottled pigmentation, roughness, and sallowness improved on both sides (p < .05), but fine lines improved only on the MN-PDT side (p = .004). At day 90, facial erythema (p = .04) and coarse wrinkles (p = .002) also improved on the MN-PDT side, in addition to fine lines for conventional MAL-PDT (p = .01). Erythema (p = .009), edema (p = .01), crusting (p = .01), and pain (p = .004) were more common and intense on the MN-PDT side. One patient developed a secondary bacterial infection at day 7 on the MN-PDT side. Average AK clearance was 88.3%, with no difference between the sides. CONCLUSION: Microneedling-assisted PDT is a safe and effective method and can produce superior cosmetic results to conventional MAL-PDT for improving photodamaged skin. Further larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the addition of MN decreases actinic keratosis.

Pain in photodynamic therapy: mechanism of action and management strategies.

Photodynamic therapy involves administration of a photosensitizing drug and its subsequent activation by irradiation with a light source at wavelengths matching the absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. In many countries around the world, topical photodynamic therapy has been approved for treatment of cutaneous oncologic conditions such as actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and superficial basal cell carcinoma. Multicenter, randomized, controlled studies have confirmed its efficacy and superior cosmetic outcomes compared to conventional therapies. Nevertheless, this therapeutic method presents some adverse effects, such as erythema, edema, pigmentation, pustules, and pain. There is no doubt that pain is the most severe of the adverse effects, being sometimes responsible for definitive treatment interruption. The pain mechanism has not yet been fully understood, which makes complete pain control a challenge to be conquered. In spite of that, this literature review presents some useful pain management strategies as well as the most important pain-related factors in photodynamic therapy.

Pain in photodynamic therapy: mechanism of action and management strategies / Dor na terapia fotodinâmica: mecanismo de ação e estratégias de manejo

Photodynamic therapy involves administration of a photosensitizing drug and its subsequent activation by irradiation with a light source at wavelengths matching the absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. In many countries around the world, topical photodynamic therapy has been approved for treatment of cutaneous oncologic conditions such as actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and superficial basal cell carcinoma. Multicenter, randomized, controlled studies have confirmed its efficacy and superior cosmetic outcomes compared to conventional therapies. Nevertheless, this therapeutic method presents some adverse effects, such as erythema, edema, pigmentation, pustules, and pain. There is no doubt that pain is the most severe of the adverse effects, being sometimes responsible for definitive treatment interruption. The pain mechanism has not yet been fully understood, which makes complete pain control a challenge to be conquered. In spite of that, this literature review presents some useful pain management strategies as well as the most important pain-related factors in photodynamic therapy.

A terapia fotodinâmica consiste na administração de uma droga fotossensibilizante e sua subseqüente irradiação com uma fonte de luz de espectro correspondente ao do seu fotossensibilizador. Em diversos países do mundo, a terapia fotodinâmica tópica é aprovada para o tratamento de condições oncológicas cutâneas como queratoses actínicas, doença de Bowen e carcinoma basocelular superficial. Estudos multicêntricos controlados e randomizados confirmam sua eficácia e seus resultados cosméticos superiores em relação às terapias convencionais. No entanto, existem alguns efeitos adversos inerentes a esse método terapêutico, como eritema, edema, pigmentação, pústulas e dor. Essa última é, sem dúvida, a mais importante deles, chegando a ser responsável pela interrupção definitiva do tratamento em alguns casos. O mecanismo dessa dor permanece ainda não completamente entendido. Tal fato faz do controle total da dor durante a terapia fotodinâmica um desafio ainda a ser conquistado. Apesar disso, esta revisão apresenta algumas estratégias que podem ajudar os pacientes a tolerar melhor a terapia fotodinâmica, além de relacionar os principais fatores ligados à dor descritos na literatura.

Psoríase pustulosa da infância: relato de caso / Childhood pustular psoriasis: case report

A psoríase pustulosa generalizada é tipo raro de psoríase descrita pela primeira vez, em 1910, por Von Zumbusch. A psoríase pustulosa generalizada na criança tende a ter um curso mais benigno que no adulto, entretanto, em sua forma grave, pode por em risco a vida do paciente. Talvez, pela raridade da doença, nenhuma opção terapêutica se mostrou consistentemente eficaz e segura até o momento. Relatos isolados sugerem ser o retinoide a droga de escolha nesses casos, porém trata-se de fármaco que, na primeira infância, traz mais dificuldades no manejo. Relata-se exemplo dessa rara doença em lactente, quadro extenso e grave, com resposta satisfatória ao uso de dapsona, com boa tolerabilidade.

Generalized pustulous psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis first described in 1910 by Von Zumbusch. This disease tends to have a more benign development in children when compared to its development in adults. However, in its serious form it may represent a risk to the patient's life. Maybe, due to being such a rare disease no therapeutic option has so far consistently proved to be both effective and safe. Isolated reports suggest that retinoid is the best choice of drug in these cases. However, it is difficult to manage this drug in early infancy. The present report describes a serious case of this rare disease in an infant with a satisfactory response and good tolerance to the use of dapsone.

Childhood pustular psoriasis: case report.

Generalized pustulous psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis first described in 1910 by Von Zumbusch. This disease tends to have a more benign development in children when compared to its development in adults. However, in its serious form it may represent a risk to the patient's life. Maybe, due to being such a rare disease no therapeutic option has so far consistently proved to be both effective and safe. Isolated reports suggest that retinoid is the best choice of drug in these cases. However, it is difficult to manage this drug in early infancy. The present report describes a serious case of this rare disease in an infant with a satisfactory response and good tolerance to the use of dapsone.

Teratoma congênito de orofaringe: relato de caso / Oropharyngeal congenital teratoma: a case report

O teratoma congênito de orofaringe é o tipo mais raro de teratoma, compreendendo apenas 2 por cento desses tumores fetais. O diagnóstico deve ser realizado o mais precocemente possível, preferencialmente durante o pré-natal. O prognóstico irá depender do tamanho e localização da lesão, da velocidade de crescimento desta, do envolvimento de estruturas intracranianas e da ressecção adequada do tumor com equipe multidisciplinar. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente que teve diagnosticado durante a gestação feto com teratoma congênito de orofaringe (epignathus) por meio de ultra-sonografia. O feto evoluiu para óbito intra-uterino na 29ª semana de gestação, sendo então induzido o parto por via vaginal. O exame anatomopatológico revelou feto do sexo feminino, compatível com 27-28 semanas, teratoma orofaríngeo e outras malformações congênitas