Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: a case report.

ABSTRACT

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is approved in Europe for the treatment of actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, both intraepithelial forms of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A therapeutic effect of MAL-PDT has been recently suggested for superficial, microinvasive and well-differentiated cutaneous SCC. We describe the successful use of MAL-PDT in a recently observed patient with microinvasive SCC of the lower lip and review published data on the use of PDT with MAL or d-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in cutaneous microinvasive SCC. A patient with a biopsy-proven recurrent microinvasive SCC of the lower lip was treated with 2 cycles of MAL-PDT. Complete clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological clearance was obtained after 2 cycles of MAL-PDT with an excellent cosmetic result and a sustained remission after 24-month follow-up. A review of the few studies reporting on the use of MAL-PDT or ALA-PDT for cutaneous microinvasive SCCs was carried out. MAL-PDT might represent a non-invasive treatment option for microinvasive SCC of the lower lip if patients are not eligible for surgery. Post-treatment histopathological confirmation and a long-term follow-up are strictly recommended.