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The appearance of inflammatory papules in the skin surrounding areas treated with imiquimod cream for basal cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Stinco G.,
Frattasio A.,
Forcione M.,
Quinkenstein E.,
Finato N.,
Patrone P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.08301.x
Subject(s) - basal cell carcinoma , dermatology , medicine , imiquimod , basal cell , pathology
BACKGROUND: Imiquimod is a topical synthetic immune response modifier recently used for treating basal cell carcinoma. CASE REPORTS: We report the cases of 5 patients treated for basal cell carcinomas on their back with Imiquimod 5% topical cream. Each patient developed numerous inflammatory papules in the skin surrounding the treatment site between two to four weeks after beginning treatment. One of these patients histological exam revealed inflammatory infiltrate predominantly containing lymphocytes and macrophages, but no carcinoma cells. The lesions spontaneously disappeared even though the therapy with Imiquimod was continued. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that the reactions surrounding the treated area were due to the absorption of the active ingredient that induces an inflammatory response along the lymphatics draining the treatment site