Skin field cancerisation: A systematic review of the literature regarding its treatment

Skin neoplasms are the most frequent malignant lesions, increasing patient's morbidity when associated with skin field cancerisation. There is a need to understand the current therapies, both clinical and surgical.

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guideline, registered in PROSPERO: CRD42018114826, including studies from 2012 to 2019.

Seven hundred and eighty-two studies were found, of which 21 were included. Of these, 8 primary studies were randomised controlled trials: fractional CO₂ laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs. PDT (no significance), daylight PDT vs. PDT (no significance, daylight PDT had less adverse effects), trichloroacetic acid peel vs. 5-aminolaevulinic acid PDT (clinical improvement of aminolaevulinic acid PDT), 5-Fluorouracil 0.5%/Salicylic Acid 10% vs. vehicle (clinical improvement of 5-Fluorouracil 0.5%/Salicylic Acid 10%), photolyase vs. sun filters (no significance), sunscreens vs. sunscreens plus DNA repair enzymes (DNA Repair Enzymes was more effective in reducing field cancerisation). Only one systematic review was included in which there was effectiveness of daylight PDT in the treatment of actinic keratoses. The other 12 included studies had a lower level of evidence including surgical studies.

Clinical studies are more relevant in the treatment of the field cancerisation. There is a lack of surgical studies.