Daylight Photodynamic Therapy: An Update.

Daylight photodynamic therapy (dPDT) uses sunlight as a light source to treat superficial skin cancer. Using sunlight as a therapeutic device has been present for centuries, forming the basis of photodynamic therapy in the 20th century. Compared to conventional PDT, dPDT can be a less painful, more convenient and an effective alternative. The first clinical uses of dPDT on skin cancers began in Copenhagen in 2008. Currently, aminolevulinic acid-mediated dPDT has been approved to treat actinic keratosis patients in Europe. In this review article, we introduce the history and mechanism of dPDT and focus on the pros and cons of dPDT in treating superficial skin cancers. The future applications of dPDT on other skin diseases are expected to expand as conventional PDT evolves.

A study of actinic cheilitis treatment by two low-morbidity CO2 laser vaporization one-pass protocols.

Therapeutic approaches to chronic actinic cheilitis focus on the removal or destruction of diseased epithelium. The CO(2) laser has become an important therapeutic alternative, achieving clinical resolution in around 90% of patients. Although many laser physical parameters have been reported, some are known for their low potential for scar induction without compromising the success of the results. The aim of this clinicohistological study was to compare the therapeutic responses to two low-morbidity protocols involving a single laser pass. A total of 40 patients with chronic multicentric and microscopically proven disease were randomly submitted to two conservative CO(2) laser protocols using a bilateral comparative model. The degree of histological atypia of the epithelium was determined in 26 patients both pre- and postoperatively for both protocols. Other histological phenomena were assessed in addition to this central analysis parameter. Clinical recurrence occurred in 12.5% of patients for each protocol, together with a significant reduction in the degree of epithelial atypia (p < 0.001), which was occasionally complete. However, no difference was found between the protocols (p > 0.05). Using these morphological parameters it was not possible to determine whether postoperative epithelial atypias in part of the sample were reactive or residual in nature. A few patients may show minor postoperative lesions. Due to their potential to achieve clinical and importantly microscopic resolution, the studied protocols may be used for mild through moderate dysplastic epithelium and clinically diffuse disease.

Actinic cheilitis. Treatment with the carbon dioxide laser.

Actinic cheilitis is a premalignant condition that can be treated in several ways. A total of 43 patients with biopsy-proven actinic cheilitis were treated with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. After follow-up of at least 10 months, 26 patients thought that the lip was cosmetically improved, and 40 thought that the function of the lip was improved or had not changed. Complications were few and included only mild hypertrophic scarring, which resulted most often from the diagnostic biopsy and was corrected with topical or intralesional steroids or no therapy except simple massage. The CO2 laser is a simple, inexpensive, effective therapy for actinic cheilitis.

[Cutaneo-mucous precancer, treatment using CO2 laser]. / Precáncer cutaneomucoso, tratamiento con láser de CO2.

It indicates the methodologic in work and study, that the compose 51 patients constituted for 20 cases with queratomas, 10 of cheilitis, 13 of leucoplasias and 8 of melanosis precancerous of Dubreuilh. Immediately, it described the fundamentals of the laser carbon dioxide its bases parametrica in the treatment especially for those pathologic precancerous of the skin and the results obtained, with its advantages and disadvantages.

[Clinical picture and x-ray therapy of actinic cheilitis]. / Klinik und Röntgentherapie der Cheilitis actinica.

97 patients suffering from cheilitis actinica treated with x-rays between 1959 and 1977 were followed up. The cure rate was 98%. Early diagnosis, the necessity of treatment and the problems of prophylaxis are emphasized. Good results can be obtained only by a total dosis of 4,000 R.