Therapeutic evaluation of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy in Bowenoid papulosis.

BACKGROUND

Bowenoid papulosis is a polymorphic papular disease that occurs on the external genital area. We investigated the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapyin the treatment of Bowenoid papulosis.

METHODS

We investigated 200 Bowenoid papulosis cases from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Nanfang Hospital in 2016-2018. Biopsies were performed from Bowenoid papulosis lesions before treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: 100 patients each in the 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy and control groups(radiofrequency cauterisation, microwave ablation, and surgical resection groups). Differences in lesion clearance, recurrence rate, and patient satisfaction after treatment were evaluated.

RESULTS

Photodynamic therapy sessions for multifocal Bowenoid papulosis were more frequent than those for monofocal lesions. All lesions in the 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy group were cleared after photodynamic therapy, with no recurrence at the 1-year follow-up; however, 20 (20.0 %) patients in the control showed recurrence after 1 year. Only 5patients in the photodynamic group were unsatisfied with the treatment cost and 34 patients in the control group experienced short-term pain and scarring. The recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) and patient satisfaction was higher (P < 0.05) in the 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy group than those in the control. The recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) and patient satisfaction was higher (P < 0.05) in the 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy group than those in the surgical resection group. The recurrence rate of lesions was significantly lower in the surgical resection group than that in the rest of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in recurrence rate and patient satisfaction between the radiofrequency cauterisation and microwave ablation groups.

CONCLUSIONS

5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy for Bowenoid papulosis results in a low recurrence rate and high satisfaction.