Premium
Photodynamic therapy of vulvar and vaginal condyloma and intraepithelial neoplasia using topically applied 5‐aminolevulinic acid *
Author(s) -
Fehr Mathias K.,
Hornung René,
Degen Andrea,
Schwarz Viola A.,
Fink Daniel,
Haller Urs,
Wyss Pius
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.10048
Subject(s) - vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia , medicine , vulvar cancer , photodynamic therapy , dermatology , extramammary paget's disease , biopsy , vulvar neoplasm , vulva , surgery , pathology , disease , chemistry , organic chemistry
Background and Objectives To determine the feasibility of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of vulvar and vaginal condyloma and intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN, VAIN) and to compare PDT results with conventional treatments. Study Design/Materials and Methods Thirty‐eight patients with vulvar or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade II/III (n = 22) or condyloma (n = 16) had 10% 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐gel applied topically. After 2–4 hours, 80–125 J/cm 2 laser light at a wavelength of 635 nm was applied. PDT was compared to conventional treatments for condyloma (CO 2 laser evaporation) and for VIN III (laser evaporation, surgical excision). Results The complete clearance rate for condyloma treated by PDT was 66% and the rate for IN was 57% (as determined by biopsy). Of the neoplasia patients, none with hyperkeratotic VIN (n = 4) responded, and only one of four with increased pigmentation cleared. No scarring occurred, and postoperative discomfort lasted 4.9 ± 3.4 days. Reduced disease‐free survival (DFS) was associated with multifocal VIN ( P = 0.02, OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.15–4.08), but DFS did not vary with treatment mode. Conclusions Although PDT is not equally efficacious for all subgroups, PDT for condyloma and intraepithelial neoplasia appears to be as effective as conventional treatments, but with shorter healing time and excellent cosmetic results. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:273–279, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.