Photodynamic therapy for 50 patients with skin cancers or precancerous lesions.

Hematoporphyrin photodynamic therapy (HpD-PDT) was used to treat 50 patients (51 lesions) with skin cancers or precancerous lesions. The preliminary results were satisfactory, with 44 cases (45 lesions) obtaining excellent results, 4 cases good, 1 case fair, and 1 case poor. The effective rate was 98%, the significant remission rate 96%, and the complete remission rate 88.2%. Exposure to sunlight should be avoided after HpD injection, since it produces photosensitivity. A follow-up for 1 to 3 years confirmed that HpD-PDT is a good new adjuvant therapy for selected cases. It brings a hopeful future to the treatment of skin cancers.