Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of xeroderma pigmentosum: A case report

Abstract

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive dermatosis that is often complicated by multiple skin tumours at exposed locations, which are difficult to treat. We report a case of a 12-year-old girl with XP treated with oral retinoic acid and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with good clinical results. She had an 8-year history of multiple skin lesions that first appeared on her nasal dorsum, but gradually increased in size and spread to her entire face, neck, and upper limbs. Notably, the lesions became evidently aggravated after sun exposure. When she was 6 years old, sesame-seed-sized papules and plaques appeared, which were fragile and irregular in shape and would self-rupture, accompanied with slight itchiness and bloody exudate. Examination revealed multiple basal cell carcinomas. The tumours were treated with local carbon dioxide laser therapy combined with PDT. On the follow-up visit 2 months after the surgery, most of the skin lesions on her face had subsided. In cases of multiple tumours, PDT can be the treatment method of choice because it is less invasive, has less side effects, and does not damage the surrounding normal tissues.

Keywords: Lasers; Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy; Photodynamic therapy; Skin diseases; Xeroderma pigmentosum.