A Randomized Trial of the Off-label Use of Imiquimod, 5%, Cream With vs Without Tazarotene, 0.1%, Gel for the Treatment of Lentigo Maligna, Followed by Conservative Staged Excisions

Abstract

Among patients who received topical imiquimod with vs without tazarotene, 22% (8 of 37) of lesions vs 36% (15 of 42) of lesions showed residual LM on staged excisions. Pretreating LM with imiquimod, 5%, cream may decrease surgical defect sizes; however, total reliance on topical imiquimod as an alternative to surgery may put the patient at increased risk of a local recurrence.