Superficial shaving combined with photodynamic therapy is effective as a treatment for condyloma acuminatum

Abstract

Condyloma acuminatum is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by human papillomavirus. Its prevalence and recurrence rates are high. While there are multiple treatment options for condyloma acuminatum, no single therapy form is effective in achieving complete remission. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was shown to be very promising as a treatment option for condyloma acuminatum. However, for some patients the therapeutic result after a single PDT session is not satisfactory. Thus, it is necessary to develop an effective treatment method for recalcitrant condyloma acuminatum. We hypothesize that suboptimal therapeutic results after a single PDT may be caused by an insufficient penetration of the photosensitizer into the tissue. Here, we applied a combination of superficial shaving and PDT to address this issue. All patients were satisfied with the effect of the treatment, and their quality of life improved significantly. Pain was the major adverse event during treatment but was acceptable to all patients. Therefore, superficial shaving in combination with PDT is safe and effective.

Translation of photodynamic therapy and photodiagnostics into the clinic: Status and obstacles

“…The vast majority of the accepted manuscripts originate from the People's Republic of China. Retrospective analyses of previously treated patient cohorts are dominant [1][2][3][4], covering keloids, genital warts, port-wine stain (PWS) and condyloma acuminatum treatment, indicating the predominance of these superficial non-oncological indications over oncological therapies in clinical translation. These clinical studies investigated PDT either as an adjuvant to standard therapies (as in the case of surgery for keloid treatment [1]) or as stand-alone therapy vs standard therapies (as in the case of PWS [2], condyloma acuminatum (with prior hair removal) [3] and genital warts [4]).…”

“…Retrospective analyses of previously treated patient cohorts are dominant [1][2][3][4], covering keloids, genital warts, port-wine stain (PWS) and condyloma acuminatum treatment, indicating the predominance of these superficial non-oncological indications over oncological therapies in clinical translation. These clinical studies investigated PDT either as an adjuvant to standard therapies (as in the case of surgery for keloid treatment [1]) or as stand-alone therapy vs standard therapies (as in the case of PWS [2], condyloma acuminatum (with prior hair removal) [3] and genital warts [4]). While none of these studies resulted in game-changing advantages of PDT vs standard therapy or of PDT as adjuvant therapy or in combination with adjuvant measures, some reduction in recurrence in keloids, genital warts and port-wine stains were noted.…”