Long-term follow-up results of a pilot study for nodular basal cell carcinoma with PDT using partial home treatment protocol.

Significance: Evaluate a photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol for low-risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatment that requires less time spent at the hospital and is less painful.

Approach: Eight BCCs were selected, debulked, and received 20 % methyl aminolevulinate cream. After 3 h, the first irradiation was performed at the hospital (20 min, 150 J/cm).

Photodynamic therapy for nodular basal cell carcinoma up to 5mm located on high-risk area: Effectiveness and long-term follow-up results.

Significance: Response rates evaluation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treatment located on high-risk and low-risk areas of the face.

Approach: Two groups of nodular BCC were selected, debulked, and received 20% methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) hydrochloride cream. After 3 h, the first irradiation was performed (20 min, 150 J/cm).

Discrimination of cancerous from benign pigmented skin lesions based on multispectral autofluorescence lifetime imaging dermoscopy and machine learning.

Significance: Accurate early diagnosis of malignant skin lesions is critical in providing adequate and timely treatment; unfortunately, initial clinical evaluation of similar-looking benign and malignant skin lesions can result in missed diagnosis of malignant lesions and unnecessary biopsy of benign ones.

Aim: To develop and validate a label-free and objective image-guided strategy for the clinical evaluation of suspicious pigmented skin lesions based on multispectral autofluorescence lifetime imaging (maFLIM) dermoscopy.

Approach: We tested the hypothesis that maFLIM-derived autofluorescence global features can be used in machine-learning (ML) models to discriminate malignant from benign pigmented skin lesions.

A new photodynamic therapy protocol for nodular basal cell carcinoma treatment: Effectiveness and long-term follow-up.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported as an excellent option for the treatment of small nodular basal cell carcinomas (nBCC). The standard protocol consists of two sessions, one week apart. Sometimes, returning to the hospital after one week can be impractical for elderly patients, due to comorbidities and mobility issues.

Field cancerization treatment: Adjustments to an ALA red light photodynamic therapy protocol to improve pain tolerance.

Background: Field cancerization (FC) is described as an area with multiple actinic keratosis (AK) in an actinic damaged skin that requires treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment option, however, long drug light intervals (DLI) and pain during the illumination remain a challenge OBJECTIVE: Pain and the efficacy of changes in DLI and illumination during PDT treatment for FC were evaluated METHODS: Thirty patients with widespread AK of upper limbs were selected. A 20% aminolevulinic acid (ALA) cream was applied on both forearms and hands after a light curettage.

Photodynamic therapy as a treatment option for multiple pigmented basal cell carcinoma: Long-term follow-up results.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used worldwide as a non-surgical option for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). PDT treatment for pigmented BCC is not frequently performed because of poorer results, which are explained by lower penetration of the light, possibly related to the melanin absorption in the visible range wavelengths. However, there is evidence for an increase in PDT cure rates with prior debulking of the lesion.

Dual-Agent Photodynamic Therapy with Optical Clearing Eradicates Pigmented Melanoma in Preclinical Tumor Models.

Treatment using light-activated photosensitizers (photodynamic therapy, PDT) has shown limited efficacy in pigmented melanoma, mainly due to the poor penetration of light in this tissue. Here, an optical clearing agent (OCA) was applied topically to a cutaneous melanoma model in mice shortly before PDT to increase the effective treatment depth by reducing the light scattering. This was used together with cellular and vascular-PDT, or a combination of both.

Multispectral autofluorescence dermoscope for skin lesion assessment.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. Diagnosis and edge assessment of BCC lesions are based on clinical and dermoscopy evaluation, which are strongly dependent on the expertise and training of the physician. There is a high rate of underdiagnosis because BCC is frequently confused with certain common benign lesions and is often indistinguishable from the surrounding healthy tissue.

Photodynamic therapy in combination with surgery for the treatment of an extensive squamous cell carcinoma in situ - A case report.

The combination of multiple sessions of Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and surgery have been used to treat an extensive superficial lesion of squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) mediated PDT was applied to reduce the tumoral area and a small surgical removal was performed to complete elimination of the lesion. The reduction of the tumor area avoided the need for a skin graft application as well as possible postoperative complications, offering a more favorable cosmetic outcome.

Field cancerization treatment using topical photodynamic therapy: A comparison between two aminolevulinate derivatives.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical response to PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) in field cancerization using two aminolevulinate derivatives. Forty patients with multiple actinic keratosis (AK) on forearms and hands scattered received two sessions of ALA and MAL-PDT at 630 nm (36 J/cm). The AK clearance rate was 72 % for both drugs with a significant decrease in AK observed clinically (p < 00,001).

Use of dermograph for improvement of PpIX precursor's delivery in photodynamic therapy: Experimental and clinical pilot studies.

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. One of the main challenges of topical PDT is to increase the precursor penetration when applied on the lesion. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is an endogenous photosensitizer (PS) widely used, obtained by the administration of precursors such as aminolevulinic acid and methyl aminolevulinate.

Energy analysis of PDT using thermography during the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

The changes in tissue temperature of basal cell carcinoma lesions were investigated during photodynamic therapy in order to better understand the effects and mechanisms of PDT in tissue. In this study, the monitoring of 40 lesions of basal cell carcinoma was performed during photodynamic therapy. The lesion region becomes thermally evident throughout the procedure, and there is an improved contrast of the lesion edges after the end of the irradiation.

Overall Results for a National Program of Photodynamic Therapy for Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter Clinical Study to Bring New Techniques to Social Health Care.

Along the past years, a national program to implement photodynamic therapy (PDT) for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was performed over the Brazilian territory. Using a strategy involving companies, national bank, and medical partners, equipment, medication, and protocols were tested in a multicenter study. With results collected over 6 years, we could reach a great deal of advances concerning the use of PDT for skin cancer.

Single visit PDT for basal cell carcinoma - A new therapeutic protocol.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in Brazil and worldwide. Topical Photodynamic Therapy is a technique that offers advantages as: excellent aesthetic result, possibility of application for outpatients in ambulatory setting, and presenting a minimum functional impact of the treated anatomic site. Fractionated Photodynamic Therapy is a modification of the usual technique in which the full dose of light is delivered in steps separated by a periods of time ("dark intervals").

Portable fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy system for in-situ interrogation of biological tissues.

Fluorescence spectroscopy and lifetime techniques are potential methods for optical diagnosis and characterization of biological tissues with an in-situ, fast, and noninvasive interrogation. Several diseases may be diagnosed due to differences in the fluorescence spectra of targeted fluorophores, when, these spectra are similar, considering steady-state fluorescence, others may be detected by monitoring their fluorescence lifetime. Despite this complementarity, most of the current fluorescence lifetime systems are not robust and portable, and not being feasible for clinical applications.

A Multicenter Clinical Study of Expected and Unexpected Side Reactions During and After Skin Cancer Treatment by Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used for oncologic indications, especially nonmelanoma skin cancer such as superficial and nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We present a multicenter clinical study conducted between 2012 and 2014 analyzing the adverse reactions during and after PDT with a standardized protocol in 866 lesions. A total of 728 patients with positive clinical and histopathological diagnosis for BCC with up to 2 cm diameter were treated.

Laptop computer induced erythema ab igne: a new presentation of an old disease.

Erythema ab igne is a condition characterized by skin changes due to chronic exposure to moderate temperature. We describe a female patient with continuous use of a laptop computer on exposed legs for 6 months and consequent development of reticulated hyperpigmentation at the area. Histopathological examination revealed epidermal atrophy, collagen fragmentation, and vacuolar changes in the basal layer, among other signs.

A quantitative study of in vivo protoporphyrin IX fluorescence build up during occlusive treatment phases.

Background: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive light based therapy used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and dysplasia. During PDT, the light sensitive molecule protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is activated, resulting in the production of singlet oxygen, which subsequently leads to cell death. PpIX is metabolised from a topically applied pro-drug and the strong fluorescence signal associated with PpIX can be utilised as an indicator of the amount of PpIX present within the tumour tissue.

Oral chronic graft-versus-host disease: analysis of dendritic cells subpopulations.

The graft-versus-host disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Aiming at contributing to the understanding of the role of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and natural killer cells in chronic graft-versus-host disease, we examined biopsies of jugal mucosa of 26 patients with acute myeloid leukemia who had undergone allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Half of these patients developed oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Experience and BCC subtypes as determinants of MAL-PDT response: preliminary results of a national Brazilian project.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer type in Brazil and worldwide. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive technique with excellent cosmetic outcome and good curative results, when used for the initial stages of skin cancer. A Brazilian program was established to determine the efficacy of methyl aminolevulinate (MAL)-PDT, using Brazilian device and drug.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease: clinical presentation of multiple lesions of lichenoid and atrophic pattern.

Graft-versus-host disease is observed mainly in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation and is expressed by cutaneous or systemic signals and symptoms. Graft-versus-host disease is clinically classified as acute or chronic. Chronic Graft-versus-host disease occurs in up to 70% of hematopoietic cell transplanted patients and its clinical manifestations have important impact on morbidity and quality of life.