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

BACKGROUNDSome 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. OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in the nose of a young man. METHODSImiquimod 5% cream was applied to the lesion five times a week for 12 weeks. RESULTSComplete clinicopathologic tumor clearance and an excellent cosmetic result were achieved after 12 weeks of imiquimod treatment. CONCLUSIONImiquimod 5% cream may represent a reasonably effective alternative for the management of invasive squamous cell carcinoma in selected patients.