Hematoporphyrin-Derivative and Phototherapy in Extensive Basal-Cell Carcinoma of the Dorsal Skin

A 75 year old male patient was diagnosed of multiple “basal cell carcinoma in a surface area of l8 × 21 cm2 of the dorsal skin. Contraindications for surgery and radiation therapy made the patient eligible for phototherapy. After hematoporphyrln-derivative (HpD) administration at the dose of 3 mg/kg, body weight, the entire area of lesions was treated 2 times and in 12 fractionated areas, by using Argon or Dye lasers and different exposure times. Five of the 12 fractions were treated with Argon-ion laser at 100 mW/cm2 average irradiance for 20 min, whereas 7 fractions were treated at the same irradiance with Dye laser for 10 min in one, 15 min in 3 and 20 min for the remaining 3. Energy dose of 60 J/cm2 with Dye laser irradiation and 120 J/cm2 with Argon-ion laser irradiation resulted in similar effectiveness from clinical and histologic standpoints for the studied surface epitheliomas.