Successful treatment of giant Bowen's disease with photodynamic therapy and subsequent imiquimod in a case with chronic arsenic exposure

Tzu-Kun Lo; Yu-Chen Chen; Wei-Ting Liu; Tak-Wah Wong

doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103128

Successful treatment of giant Bowen's disease with photodynamic therapy and subsequent imiquimod in a case with chronic arsenic exposure

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2022 Dec:40:103128. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103128. Epub 2022 Sep 20.

Authors

Tzu-Kun Lo¹, Yu-Chen Chen¹, Wei-Ting Liu², Tak-Wah Wong³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan.
² Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; National Cheng Kung University Hospital Cancer Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; National Cheng Kung University Hospital Cancer Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Center of Applied Nanomedicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: Dr.kentwwong@gmail.com.

PMID: 36150635
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103128

Abstract

Multiple large lesions of Bowen's disease (BD) often appear in patients who have been under chronic exposure to arsenic. The treatment of such lesions is very challenging. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been considered a first-line effective treatment for BD. However, lesions larger than 2 cm are less responsive to PDT. We reported two giant BD lesions (> 10 cm in diameter), that were on a chronic arsenicosis patient's back, to be successfully treated with PDT and subsequent imiquimod occlusion overnight twice a week on the week after PDT. No recurrence was noted during the 12-month follow-up.

Keywords: Aminolevulinic acid; Arsenic; Bowen's disease; Imiquimod; Photodynamic therapy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aminolevulinic Acid / therapeutic use
Bowen's Disease* / pathology
Humans
Imiquimod / therapeutic use
Photochemotherapy* / methods
Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
Skin Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Aminolevulinic Acid
Imiquimod
Photosensitizing Agents