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Updated: Dec 22, 2025
An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy
Published on: August 17, 2018
Photodynamic therapy for keratoacanthoma on the upper lip
Xinglong Liang1, Sifan Lin1, Jun Yan1
1Department of Dermatology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, Guangdong, China.
Background:
Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a cutaneous neoplasm, which is similar to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) clinically, cytologically, and histopathologically. Surgical resection is the first choice for treating KA, but it may be impractical when a KA is located in a cosmetically sensitive area.
Observation:
We describe a patient with a nodule on the right upper lip. We performed a surgical biopsy to obtain a histopathological diagnosis. Specimen analysis revealed a diagnosis of KA. As the tumor was located in the upper lip, a direct resection may require a flap to reconstruct the lip shape; instead, a noninvasive field approach using photodynamic therapy (PDT) was initiated. After five sessions of treatment, the lesion disappeared, and there was no scar.
Conclusions:
Although there is no consensus on using PDT to treat KA, we provide a case report on the effective use of PDT in the treatment of KAs. PDT can be an alternative treatment option when KA is located in a particular anatomic site.
