Treatment of Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma With 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Activated With a 595-nm Long-Pulsed Dye Laser: A Case Report

A 50-year-old man with a nodular basal cell carcinoma present for 4 months was treated with 5‑aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) activated with a 595-nm long-pulsed dye laser. 5-Aminolevulinic acid was applied for 60 minutes after debulking the lesion with a sharp curette. The 595-nm long-pulsed dye laser with a spot size diameter of 7 mm, a pulse duration of 20 ms at 11.3 J/cm2, and continuous cold air cooling with a Zimmer unit was used to activate the 5-ALA–treated lesion, with 50 pulses to the entire 2-cm diameter lesion. The treated area completely healed within 3 weeks leaving a minor hypertrophic scar. No evidence of recurrence was noted 3 years after treatment and excellent postoperative healing was observed.