Photodynamic therapy effective for the treatment of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma in bullous pemphigoid patients

Abstract

Treating skin cancers and extensive actinic keratosis in patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) can be challenging. Treatment options pose unique risks in these patients as surgical wounds can have delayed wound healing and photodynamic therapy (PDT) may exacerbate their blistering disease. We report the successful use of PDT to treat actinic keratosis and skin cancers in two patients with BP, both of whom had excellent response to PDT and tolerated treatment without any bullous disease flares. Carefully selected patients with skin cancers and stable, well controlled BP can be safely considered for treatment using PDT.

Keywords: Actinic keratosis; Basal cell carcinoma; Pemphigoid; Photodynamic therapy.