Topical imiquimod treatment of superficial and nodular basal cell carcinomas in patients affected by basal cell nevus syndrome: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND: Imiquimod 5% cream has been shown to be effective in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCCs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and compliance of imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of sBCCs and nodular BCCs (nBCCs) in patients affected by basal cell nevus syndrome. PATIENTS/METHODS: Three patients (two male, one female) were enrolled in the study. Nine tumors (five sBCCs and four nBCCs), all ranging in size from 0.5 cm to 1 cm, were treated. Treatment consisted for sBCCs of three weekly applications and for nBCCs of five weekly applications for 8 weeks. Histological examination was performed at the beginning and at the end of the study. For small tumors, similar-appearing lesions were removed for baseline histological confirmation. Follow-up was performed at 1-week intervals in order to carefully detect any change. RESULTS: Three sBCCs cleared clinically after 4 weeks of treatment and two nBCCs after 8 weeks. The remaining four lesions showed excellent clinical r...