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Clinical efficacy of methyl aminolaevulinate photodynamic therapy in basal cell carcinoma and solar keratosis
Author(s) -
Foley Peter
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2004.00117.x
Subject(s) - foley , medicine , dermatology , skin cancer , basal cell carcinoma , actinic keratosis , photodynamic therapy , family medicine , cancer , basal cell , surgery , pathology , chemistry , organic chemistry
According to the National Cancer Control Initiative’s National Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Survey, in 2002, an estimated 256 000 Australians (884/100 000) were treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 118 000 (387/100 000) were treated for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). 1 This represented a 35% rise in BCC rates, and a 133% rise in SCC rates since 1985. Approximately 50% of BCC occur on the head and neck (where cosmetic outcome is important), 27% occur on the trunk (where poor scarring is a common outcome), 13% on the upper limbs and 8% on the lower limbs (where poor healing is a common problem). Some three-quarters of BCC (73%) and SCC (79%) are treated using surgical excision, and the majority are treated in the primary care setting. 1 Solar keratoses (SK) are very common in the Caucasian population, developing in 7–19% of Australians aged 40 years and over annually. This reflects a significant disease burden. The risk of progression of SK into invasive SCC is somewhat debated, with rates varying from 0.025% per year 2 to more than 10% per year. 3 Likewise, the risk of regression/ remission has not been extensively studied; placebocontrolled studies suggest that at least 20% resolve spontaneously. 4,5 It is without doubt, however, that the majority of SCC (at least 60%) arise from a lesion diagnosed clinically as SK. 6,7