Background/Purpose
Conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. We studied low irradiance PDT using an ambulatory inorganic light‐emitting diode.
Methods
Fifty‐three patients with 61 lesions [superficial basal cell carcinoma (n = 30), Bowen's disease (n = 30), and actinic keratosis (AK; n = 1)] were studied. Two treatments of ambulatory PDT were undertaken 1 week apart (one treatment for AK). Clinical response was determined at 3 months, and the treatment cycle was repeated if there was residual disease. The endpoints assessed were pain during treatment (numerical rating scale (NRS); 0–10) and outcome at 1 year. Twenty‐three of these patients also received conventional PDT to separate lesions.
Results
The median NRS pain scores during first and second treatment were 2 (range 0–9) and 4 (0–9), respectively. Lesion clearance rate at 1 year after ambulatory PDT was 84% (21/25 lesions in 22 patients). Of the twenty‐three patients treated with both ambulatory and conventional PDT, the median NRS was 1 (0–7) and 5 (1.5–9), respectively, with most patients preferring ambulatory PDT.
Conclusion
Ambulatory PDT is effective for superficial non‐melanoma skin cancer, with 1 year clearance rates comparative to conventional PDT. Low irradiance ambulatory PDT may be less painful and more convenient than conventional PDT.