Plum-blossom needling enhanced the effect of photodynamic therapy on basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) often occurs in the face of middle and old aged people. Given its particular location, aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is often applied in cosmetology and inappropriate surgical treatment. Specific measures in PDT treatment should be performed to increase the ALA penetration capability because of the limited depth of ALA penetration. This research aims to explore the method that facilitates ALA penetration.

METHODS: Three patients with BCC were subjected to four regular sessions of ALA-PDT every other week. Before the PDT treatment, super pulsed CO2 laser was used to burn a part of the lesions, and plum-blossom needle was then tapped at the lesions for three times. The fresh prepared 20% 5-ALA was coated and kept for 3 h. The lesion was irradiated with red light with 126 J/cm2 at a wavelength of 633 nm and at a rate of 100 mW/cm2 for 30 min.

RESULTS: After each session of ALA-PDT, the thickness of BCC gradually decreased. After final session of ALA-PDT, the plaque became a red, painless patch. The lesions were repaired completely, and a left brown patch was left.

CONCLUSION: Plum-blossom needle can be effectively applied as adjunctive treatment strategy in the development of ALA-PDT for BCC.