Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy
04:53

An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy

Published on: August 17, 2018

9.3K

Photodynamic therapy in a patient with facial angiofibromas due to tuberous sclerosis complex

Minglan Shi1, Sijin He1, Pingjiao Chen1

  • 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.

Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
|August 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Facial angiofibromas, a symptom of tuberous sclerosis complex, cause distress. Photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA-PDT) offers a promising treatment with a 6-year recurrence-free outcome.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Photomedicine

Background:

  • Facial angiofibromas are a common manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
  • These lesions can cause significant psychosocial distress.
  • Current therapeutic options for facial angiofibromas are limited, with no established standard treatment.

Observation:

  • A case of facial angiofibromas associated with TSC is presented.
  • The patient underwent treatment with 5-aminolaevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT).

Findings:

  • Successful treatment of facial angiofibromas was achieved using ALA-PDT.
  • The patient experienced no recurrence of lesions for a follow-up period of 6 years.
  • ALA-PDT demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile in this case.

Implications:

  • ALA-PDT represents a promising therapeutic strategy for managing facial angiofibromas in TSC patients.
  • This approach may improve quality of life by addressing both the physical and emotional burden of the condition.
  • Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings in larger cohorts.
Keywords:
5-Aminolaevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT)Facial angiofibromasTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)

More Related Videos

Development of an Innovative LED-based Illumination Device for In Vitro Application of Photodynamic Therapy with Rose Bengal07:24

Development of an Innovative LED-based Illumination Device for In Vitro Application of Photodynamic Therapy with Rose Bengal

Published on: September 12, 2025

471
Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro08:04

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro

Published on: March 18, 2014

13.2K

Related Concept Videos

Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
612
Muscles for Facial Expressions01:14

Muscles for Facial Expressions

The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
4.7K
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.4K
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
16.7K
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts01:57

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...
2.9K
Group Therapy01:26

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a sociocultural approach to psychological treatment, where individuals with shared psychological challenges come together under the guidance of a mental health professional. This therapeutic modality offers unique opportunities for individuals to connect, share, and grow within the context of a supportive group. By fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, group therapy can address a range of psychological concerns effectively, often complementing or surpassing the...
374