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Topical diclofenac 3% gel plus cryotherapy for treatment of multiple and recurrent actinic keratoses
Author(s) -
Mastrolonardo M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.02783.x
Subject(s) - cryotherapy , actinic keratoses , diclofenac , dermatology , medicine , photodermatosis , surgery , chemistry , xeroderma pigmentosum , anesthesia , dna , biochemistry , basal cell , dna damage
Summary This paper reviews retrospectively the results obtained in a case series of multiple refractory actinic keratoses (AKs), treated sequentially with topical diclofenac 3% gel followed by cryotherapy. In total, 29 patients were reviewed; all had ≥ 5 lesions (mean 8.2; range 5–12) and a long‐term history of recurrence after repeated cryotherapy. After a first‐line, 12 week treatment phase with diclofenac 3% gel alone, the number of AKs per subject was reduced to an average of 1.5 AKs (range 0–5), with complete clearance of lesions in 21 cases (71%). Patients showing incomplete response to the above treatment ( n = 8) then received liquid‐nitrogen ablation for all residual lesions. This procedure resulted in complete clearance of all cases. Significantly, during the post‐treatment follow‐up period, patients had no AK recurrences for an average of 10 months (range 6–20). Sequential treatment with diclofenac 3% gel followed by cryotherapy may therefore represent an effective approach for the management of multiple refractory AKs.