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Original article
Comparison of imiquimod 5% cream versus radiotherapy as treatment for eyelid basal cell carcinoma
  1. E Garcia-Martin1,2,
  2. L M Gil-Arribas1,
  3. M Idoipe1,
  4. J Alfaro3,
  5. V Pueyo1,2,
  6. L E Pablo1,2,
  7. F J Fernandez1
  1. 1Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain
  2. 2Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
  3. 3Anatomical Pathology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Dr Elena Garcia-Martin, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Consultas Externas de Oftalmología, C/ Padre Arrupe, s/n 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; egmvivax{at}yahoo.com

Abstract

Background To compare the efficacy, cosmesis and tolerance of two non-surgical treatments—imiquimod (IMQ) 5% cream and radiotherapy (RT)—to combat periocular nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Methods Twenty-seven patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of nodular BCC on the eyelid were included and randomly selected: 15 patients were treated with IMQ 5% cream once daily, 5 days/week for 6 weeks, and 12 patients were treated with RT.

Results All tumours showed histopathological remission within 3 months of the treatment, and sustained clinical remission was documented in each patient after 24 months' follow-up. Treatment tolerability was rated as moderate with IMQ and good with RT. Functional results were better in patients treated with IMQ. Loss of eyelashes was reported for most of the patients treated with RT.

Conclusions IMQ and RT therapies are effective for treating eyelid nodular BCCs. Cosmesis and functional results were better with IMQ, while tolerability was higher with RT.

  • Basal cell carcinoma
  • imiquimod
  • eyelid
  • immunomodulatory drug therapy
  • radiotherapy
  • eye lids
  • neoplasia
  • pharmacology
  • treatment medical
  • cosmesis

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Miguel Servet University Hospital.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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