Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been suggested as an effective and tissue-conserving method of treating carcinoma in situ of the vulva.
Objectives: To evaluate PDT in patients with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia type III (VIN III).
Methods: Topical PDT was performed in six patients with VIN III. Five of the six patients had persistent disease following treatment with other modalities including 5-fluorouracil cream, cryotherapy, carbon dioxide laser ablation and excision. Each patient was treated once with a fluence of 150 J cm-2 using a broad-band light source (580-740 nm) 4 h after topical application of 20% 5-ALA. Patients were reviewed clinically at 1 month and 6 months after treatment.
Results: All of the patients developed initial erythema of treated sites, three with subsequent erosions. All patients had clinically evident persistent VIN III at 1-month review. Five patients have subsequently undergone surgical treatment and one is regularly reviewed.
Conclusions: This small uncontrolled study indicates that, as currently administered, a single episode of topical PDT is not effective in the management of treatment-resistant VIN III.