English summary: Long-term results of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck area

Photodynamic therapy has proven to be effective when treating superficial and thin nodular basal cell carcinomas, most of which arise in the head and neck area. Primary cure results have been excellent, but there are few reports on long term efficacy.

In our department, photodynamic therapy has been in use since 2004. This study was conducted to clarify the long term results of photodynamic therapy for basal cell carcinoma located in the facial area during the years 2004-2008. Sixty-six patients with 75 tumours were included. The data were collected from patient charts and those patients who were alive at the time of study were contacted and the lesion area photographed when possible. Patients were asked for a self-evaluation of the functional and cosmetic outcome.

The long term effect was found to be comparable to that of conventional methods; the best results were achieved in the nose and eyelid area. Patients were highly satisfied with the cosmetic and functional outcomes. Photodynamic therapy was shown to be an excellent method for treating basal cell carcinoma in the facial area. This treatment modality should be considered especially in elderly persons, for whom surgical excision with possible plastic reconstruction may cause an unnecessary burden. Careful patient selection is of paramount importance.