A Case of Morphemic Type Basal Cell Carcinoma in Whom Photodynamic Diagnosis (PDD) was Effective for Diagnosing the Area of Tumor Cell Invasion

Abstract

Morpheic basal cell carcinoma was observed in the nasal region of an 88-year-old male. It was virtually impossible to determine the tumor area clinically. Therefore, a photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) was undertaken. Following coating of the area with photosensitive 5-aminolevulinic acid, red fluorescence was emitted under ultraviolet A irradiation. Strong red fluorescence was observed in the tumor region. Resection was made 2 mm from that site, and pathological investigation revealed total removal of the tumor with no tumor cells in the resection stump. Therefore, PDD can be useful for determining the tumor area in cases of morpheic basal cell carcinoma in which the treatment locus is difficult to pinpoint.