Topical tretinoin treatment in basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND: The efficiency of topical tretinoin was examined in a patient with basal cell carcinomas (BCC) for which conventional means of removal was inappropriate. METHODS: Topical tretinoin was used to treat multiple arsenic-induced superficial BCCs in a 64-year-old woman. Topical tretinoin (0.05% twice daily) was administered to four lesions for 3 weeks followed by a 3-week interruption. RESULTS: After three cycles of treatment clinical healing of all the lesions was observed. Histopathological examination of the lesional biopsies showed no evidence of a tumor. However, 9 months later all four lesions relapsed and surgical excision disclosed BCC. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that topical tretinoin treatment of multiple superficial BCCs induces clinical and pathological regression of the lesions with a high rate of relapse. This report suggests that topical tretinoin is not an effective therapy for the cure of arsenic-induced superficial BCCs.