Photodynamic therapy for Bowen's Disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) current review and update

The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with an overview of outcomes in the current literature concerning the use of Photodynamic Therapy to treat Bowen's Disease, also known as Squamous Cell Carcinoma in situ. The review discusses clinical response, recurrence rates, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse effects. Strong evidence shows that PDT is an effective therapy for SCCis with acceptable clinical response rates and lower recurrence rates in comparison to conventional therapies such as cryotherapy and 5-fluorouracil. Furthermore, PDT is associated with superior cosmetic outcomes and is generally well tolerated by patients, with minimal side effects. PDT is especially useful in patients with multiple lesions and those whom are considered to be non-surgical candidates.