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Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis and photodynamic therapy: a new therapeutic option?
Author(s) -
Pellegrino M.,
Taddeucci P.,
Mei S.,
Peccianti C.,
Fimiani M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2010.01389.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cryotherapy , photodynamic therapy , diathermy , dermatology , curettage , surgery , etiology , electrocoagulation , chemistry , organic chemistry
Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis (CNCH) is a fairly frequent disorder of unknown etiology. Although the elective therapy is surgery, local application of topical steroids, antibiotic ointments, intralesional injection of collagen, cryotherapy, curettage followed by diathermy, and CO 2 laser treatment have also been proposed. The aim of the study was to test the utility of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for CNCH. Two patients with painful CNCH underwent PDT with a 635 nm light source for 20 minutes (70 J/cm 2 ) after application of cream containing 20% 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA) and occlusion for 3 hours. The lesions decreased considerably in size and pain ceased within a few weeks. The results suggest that this method can be useful for treating CNCH, especially in patients with contraindications for surgery.