Researchers have found that a two-dose treatment of 595-nm pulsed dye lasers may be an effective substitute for surgery in geriatric patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers located on the hands, according to a report from Healio summarizing the new findings. They explained that geriatric patients often have more fragile and atrophied skin that makes surgical resection more complicated. In a new study presented by Herron et al at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, researchers analyzed the cases of 124 geriatric patients who received one or two treatments for their nonmelanoma skin cancers with 595-nm pulsed dye lasers. They discovered that compared with those who received only one treatment, among those who received two treatments, 2 patients vs 10 patients experienced skin cancer recurrence, with a recurrence rate of 3.5% vs 15%, demonstrating the efficacy of 595-nm pulsed dye lasers in treating this patient population.
May 24, 2023