Dermabrasion combined with aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy for the treatment of nasal nodular basal cell carcinoma: 25 case reports

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy of dermabrasion combined with aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) for the treatment of nasal nodular basal cell carcinoma (nBCC). Methods Twenty-five patients who were pathologically diagnosed as nasal nBCC with lesion area>1 cm2 but no bone or cartilage involvement, were included in this study and treated with dermabrasion combined with ALA-PDT. At first, the part of tumor protruding outside the skin was removed by artherectomy, then dermabrasion was carried out. The wound surface was topically treated with 20% aminolevulinic acid solution for 3- 4 hours away from light immediately after surgery, then irradiated with LED light at a mean dose of 100 J/cm2 for 20 minutes. ALA-PDT was performed once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. The degree of and time required for wound healing were assessed, and tumor recurrence, cicatrization and appearance outcomes were observed during 1 year after surgery. Efficacy was assessed comprehensively. Results No postoperative wound infection occurred in these patients, and the average time for wound healing was (11.2±1.3) days. During 1 year after the treatment, no recurrence was found, while cicatricial contracture developed in 1 case, mild proliferative scar in 3 cases, and depressed scar in 4 cases. All the patients were satisfied with the treatment outcomes, except 1 patient who was basically satisfied. Conclusions Dermabrasion combined with ALA-PDT is easy to operate with rapid wound healing, low postoperative recurrence rate and high degree of patient satisfaction, and is worthy of clinical promotion. Key words: Carcinoma, basal cell; Dermabrasion; Aminolevulinic acid; Photochemotherapy