Blood perfusion studies on basal cell carcinomas in conjunction with photodynamic therapy and cryotherapy employing laser-Doppler perfusion imaging.

Superficial blood perfusion was monitored using laser-Doppler perfusion imaging in connection with a phase III clinical trial comparing photodynamic therapy, utilizing topically applied delta-aminolevulinic acid, with cryotherapy of basal cell carcinomas. A total of 526 images were recorded before and immediately after the treatment and during the follow-up period. Before treatment, the lesions exhibited a blood perfusion 3+/-2 times that in normal tissue. Both treatment modalities induced an increased blood perfusion inside the lesions, which slowly approached normal values in conjunction with successful treatments. The blood perfusion in successfully treated lesions approached normal values 2 months after photodynamic therapy, and about 1 year after cryotherapy. The tissue perfusion in recurrent lesions did not decrease to normal values after the treatment, suggesting that the laser-Doppler perfusion imaging technique can be used to follow the healing process and discover possible persistent tumour growth.