Imiquimod: An Effective Alternative for the Treatment of Invasive Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some patients with invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are either not adequate surgical candidates or present with lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas in which a surgical procedure might result in an apparent and/or a cosmetically unacceptable scar. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in the nose of a young man. METHODS: Imiquimod 5% cream was applied to the lesion five times a week for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Complete clinicopathologic tumor clearance and an excellent cosmetic result were achieved after 12 weeks of imiquimod treatment. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod 5% cream may represent a reasonably effective alternative for the management of invasive squamous cell carcinoma in selected patients.