Qing Fan1, Stephanie Cohen2, Becky John3, Adam I Riker2. 1. General & Oncology Surgery Departments, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 2. Department of Surgery, Advocate Cancer Institute, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL. 3. Department of Pathology, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Imiquimod is a topical cream approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and genital-perianal warts. Its successful use in patients with persistently positive margins of melanoma in situ (MIS) after surgical excision has been previously reported. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old female presented with a primary melanoma that was removed through an elliptical excision with 1 cm margins. Pathology revealed 3 involved margins with residual MIS without an invasive component. After a second operation removed an additional 1 cm margin, pathology revealed 2 positive margins with residual MIS. Rather than undergoing a third excision, the patient decided to pursue a nonsurgical approach with topical imiquimod, and at the 4-month follow-up examination, the incision was completely healed with no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: A nonsurgical approach with 5% topical imiquimod cream applied along the incision was utilized. In specific patient populations, the use of imiquimod is a reasonable alternative approach for the management of persistently positive MIS margins. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess for evidence of recurrence and the ultimate success of this nonsurgical approach.
BACKGROUND:Imiquimod is a topical cream approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and genital-perianal warts. Its successful use in patients with persistently positive margins of melanoma in situ (MIS) after surgical excision has been previously reported. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old female presented with a primary melanoma that was removed through an elliptical excision with 1 cm margins. Pathology revealed 3 involved margins with residual MIS without an invasive component. After a second operation removed an additional 1 cm margin, pathology revealed 2 positive margins with residual MIS. Rather than undergoing a third excision, the patient decided to pursue a nonsurgical approach with topical imiquimod, and at the 4-month follow-up examination, the incision was completely healed with no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: A nonsurgical approach with 5% topical imiquimod cream applied along the incision was utilized. In specific patient populations, the use of imiquimod is a reasonable alternative approach for the management of persistently positive MIS margins. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess for evidence of recurrence and the ultimate success of this nonsurgical approach.
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