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Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Skin Lesions

  • Chapter
European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

  • 141 Accesses

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a form of phototherapy involving a photosensitizer, a light source, and tissue oxygen. Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its ester derivative methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) are commonly used photosensitizers acting as prodrugs for protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). PpIX accumulates in abnormal epidermis and upon subsequent exposure to and activation by the appropriate light source generates reactive oxygen species that selectively destroy diseased lesions. PDT has been established to be a safe and effective treatment for superficial skin cancers and premalignant skin lesions. Pain is the most severe adverse effect but can be effectively managed. Porphyria is an important contraindication. Common approved PDT protocols include Levulan 20 % solution ALA-PDT activation with blue light for treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) in the USA and Metvix/Metvixia MAL-PDT for treatment of AK, Bowen’s disease, and basal cell carcinoma in Europe. Off-label, ALA-/MAL-PDT have been reported to treat invasive squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, Paget’s disease, and various benign inflammatory disorders and to prevent recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in organ transplant recipients. Combination therapy of PDT with other treatment modalities such as cryotherapy, surgery, and field therapies is being explored with preliminary data suggesting improved efficacy, tolerability, and long-term results. In addition, PDT offers enhanced cosmetic outcome compared to cryotherapy or surgery. PDT can also be used for skin photorejuvenation.

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Further Reading

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Edidiong Celestine Ntuen Kaminska, Susan Pei & Maria M. Tsoukas

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  1. Edidiong Celestine Ntuen Kaminska
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  2. Susan Pei
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  3. Maria M. Tsoukas
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Correspondence to Maria M. Tsoukas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Andreas Syggros Hospital University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas  & Clio Dessinioti  & 

  2. University of Rome “G. Marconi”, Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare Rigenerativa (CSRMR), Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  4. Unit of Dermatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D’Erme

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Kaminska, E.C.N., Pei, S., Tsoukas, M.M. (2015). Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Skin Lesions. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_126

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45138-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45139-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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