ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgery is the treatment of choice in basal cell carcinoma (BCC), but new less invasive techniques are in development such as photodynamic therapy. The main problem of this technique is the limited depth penetration of topical photosensitizers. The use of an intralesional photosensitizer plus an irradiation with a 630â¯nm laser should increase this penetration. OBJETIVES: To compare the effectiveness in treatment of BCC between surgery and intralesional photodynamic therapy (I-PDT). To identify the clearance rate differences between intralesional or external irradiation in I-PTD group. METHODS: A retrospective study of 102 patients with different histological types of BCC (mean depth of 2.44â¯mm) was performed. A total of 51 patients were treated with surgery and 51 with I-PDT, injecting 5-aminolevulinic acid 1% in the tumor and later irradiated with a 630â¯nm laser (intralesionally or externally: 25 and 26 patients respectively). Histological samples were obtained before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 41/51 Patients in the surgery group vs 42/51 patients in I-PDT group achieved a complete clearance after treatment (p 0.79). There were no differences in success rates between intralesional vs external irradiation in I-PDT group (p 0.46). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and retrospective study. CONCLUSION: I-PDT achieved high clearance rates in the treatment of BCC similar to surgery. There were no differences in success rates between intralesional vs external irradiation in I-PDT group. PDT might be an interesting option of treatment where surgery it is not possible.
Subject(s)
Aminolevulinic Acid/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/therapy , Photochemotherapy/methods , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Skin Neoplasms/therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/radiotherapy , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/surgery , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective Studies , Skin Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Skin Neoplasms/surgeryABSTRACT
In daily clinical practice, the dermatologic surgeon frequently has to excise closely adjacent tumors in the facial region. In such cases, planning of an appropriate reconstruction technique is essential. The aim is to treat all of the lesions in a single surgical intervention, if possible, and to achieve a good functional and cosmetic outcome. We present 5 patients in whom a single flap was used to repair multiple adjacent defects.
