Multiple facial basal cell carcinomas in xeroderma pigmentosum treated with topical imiquimod 5% cream

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by solar sensitivity, photophobia, early onset of freckling, and solar-induced cutaneous neoplastic changes. Management of patients with XP is a therapeutic challenge as they usually develop multiple cutaneous malignancies, making surgical therapy difficult, and continue to form skin malignancies at a high rate. We describe a 30-year-old Chinese man with XP who had been previously treated with excision and dermatoplasty. Upon recurrence of multiple superficial, ulcerative, and pigmented lesions, imiquimod 5% cream was recommended for 4 months. His multiple facial lesions demonstrated an excellent response to topical imiquimod 5% cream with minor side effects. This favorable response indicates that topical application of imiquimod 5% cream is an effective means of treating multiple basal cell carcinomas in XP.