MM.02.016 Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Actinic Keratoses and Other Skin Lesions 3/15

There is evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that PDT is an effective treatment for selected patients with actinic keratoses of the scalp compared with placebo or cryotherapy. The evidence to date suggests that PDT is less effective than surgery and radiotherapy and of similar efficacy to cryotherapy for treating low-risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (e.g., superficial and nodular). Moreover, the evidence suggests that cosmetic outcomes are better after PDT compared with surgery and cryotherapy. Evidence from RCTs suggests that, in patients with Bowen disease (BD), PDT has similar or higher efficacy compared with cryotherapy and 5-fluorouacil (5-FU), and better cosmetic outcomes. Thus, PDT may be considered medically necessary for treating nonhypertonic actinic keratoses of the face and scalp for treating low-risk BCC and BD when surgery and radiation are contraindicated.