Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of unilesional mycosis fungoides: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Recio ED, Zambrano B, Alonso ML, de Eusebio E, Martín M, Cuevas J, Jaén P

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Alcala de Henares University, Guadalajara, Spain. ediez@sescam.jccm.es

BACKGROUND: Unilesional mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), characterized clinically by a solitary lesion and by histopathological features indistinguishable from multilesional MF. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and effective treatment of precancerous lesions and non-melanoma skin cancers. In recent years it has been used successfully for the treatment of MF. METHODS: We present two cases of unilesional MF treated with 5-Aminolevulinic acid-PDT (ALA-PDT). We used twenty per cent ALA, applied topically to the lesion, and a well defined laser irradiation at 585 nm wavelength from C-Beam laser. Treatment was repeated three times at monthly intervals. Skin biopsies were taken before and after therapy. RESULTS: Both patients showed clinical remission. The biopsies confirmed a regression of the infiltrate after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is effective and can be used successfully for MF treatment, particularly for patch and plaque stage MF, including unilesional MF.

Published 1 April 2008 in Int J Dermatol, 47(4): 410-3.
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