Photodynamic therapy using methyl aminolevulinate acid in eyelid basal cell carcinoma: a 5-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retrospectively the long-term results of methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy for the treatment of eyelid basal cell carcinoma.

METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients with eyelid basal cell carcinoma were treated with methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy between January 2002 and April 2003. Selection criteria were tumors located at least 3 mm from the tarsus, surgery not indicated because of poor general health, and recurrences with unclear location definition. Patients were treated with an 80-J cm light-emitting diode light source (632 nm) after topical application of methyl aminolevulinate cream and occlusion for 4 hours. Data were available for follow-up at day 1, week 1, month 1, and every 6 months for 5 years.

RESULTS: The mean number of photodynamic therapy session per patient was 3.1 (range, 2-6) Complete clinical recovery was observed after the 5-year follow-up in 13 of 16 patients (82%). Two patients did not respond at all to treatment and 1 patient presented with recurrence after 3 years of tumor-free follow-up. Tolerance of treatment was good with few side effects.

CONCLUSIONS: The absence of complications, good tolerance, and a notable success rate make this nonsurgical procedure promising for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid in selected patients.