Prospective, case-based assessment of sequential therapy with topical Fluorouracil cream 0.5% and ALA-PDT for the treatment of actinic keratosis.

The sequential use of topical therapies and short-incubation photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis (AK) has not been extensively studied. The author reports on treatment with sequential 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cream 0.5% and 5-aminolevulinic acid?photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in three older men with photodamaged skin and a history of AK. These findings suggest that this combination therapy, when compared with short-contact (1 hour) ALA-PDT alone, is more effective, minimizes the recurrence of areas of field cancerization and improves the appearance of the skin. The use of 5-FU cream 0.5% before and after photodynamic therapy is effective in revealing the presence of both clinical and subclinical AK lesions.