Karrer S, Abels C, Bäumler W, Steinbauer M, Landthaler M, Szeimies R M
Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität, Regensburg.
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1997 Sep 12;122(37):1111-4. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1047735.
Six weeks before admission of a 47-year-old man with known rectal carcinoma, small nodular metastases had occurred over the front of both his thighs. Examination showed many aggregatet cuti-color or livid nodes, diameter 0.5 cm. The patient's poor general condition excluded the usual palliative measures.
Photochemotherapy of the skin metastases with indocyanine green (ICG; absorption maximum 805 nm), a non-toxic dye approved for diagnostic purposes, was undertaken on a trial basis. The dye, being bound to plasma proteins, is retained in the intravacular space. Immediately after administration of the dye (2.5 mg/kg intravenously) the skin metastases were irradiated by diode laser (lambda = 805 nm, 100 J/cm2, 3 W/cm2, radiation diameter 2 cm). This necrosed the metastases and clinically as well as histologically resulted in their complete disappearance with scarring of the treated area.
This case illustrates the effectiveness of photochemotherapy with ICG against solid skin tumours of increased microvascular density.
