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Published on: March 28, 2025
Effect of subcutaneous infiltration anesthesia on pain in photodynamic therapy: a controlled open pilot trial
Claudia Borelli1, Thomas Herzinger, Kathrin Merk
1Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. claudia.borelli@med.uni-muenchen.de
Background:
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been established as a treatment option for nonmelanoma skin cancer, such as superficial basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratoses, or Bowen's disease.
Objective:
A major drawback of PDT is pain during treatment that can cause extreme distress for some patients.
Methods:
This study was a controlled, open trial comparing PDT in 16 patients on one side of the face with orally administered analgesics and PDT on the contralateral side of the face with subcutaneous infiltration anesthesia (SIA). The 5-aminolevulinic acid gel was applied 5 hours before treatment. Pain was assessed by the patient using a visual analog scale directly after treatment.
Results:
Fifteen of 16 (94%) patients reported less pain during PDT after SIA compared to oral analgesics only. This effect was significant (Wilcoxon test for matched pairs, p= .001). No side effects due to SIA were observed.
Conclusion:
SIA is an effective and rather safe method for the control of PDT-associated pain.
