Research summary: The role of photodynamic light therapy for BCC

This month we look at the role of photodynamic light therapy (PDT) for superficial and nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

A very interesting paper has been published in Dermatology Practical and Conceptual by Koumprentziotis et al. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the randomised controlled trials done to test PDT effectiveness in BCC.

The paper is well worth a read because it does provide a good overview of the topic, together with a collation of the randomised controlled trials.

While surgical excision is the gold standard for skin cancer treatment, and (done correctly) provides the highest cure rates, other treatments are effective in the right patient and for the right lesions.

Topical treatments can be very useful for some patients, and PDT does work (again, when done well) in some situations.

Read the full paper here.

– Prof David Wilkinson

Interested in skin cancer medicine?

Read another research summary from Prof David Wilkinson: Treatment of advanced basosquamous carcinoma

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