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Actinic keratosis (AK), a precursor of non-melanoma skin cancer, has become one of the conditions most frequently encountered by dermatologists in their practices. One in ten Europeans over the age of 40 is affected 1 by it. In the United States, 60 percent of the predisposed population over 40 develop actinic keratosis 2, while in Australia 40-50 percent of the population 3 are affected. Increasingly, actinic keratosis is observed in younger people too. Light-induced damage to the skin will continue to rise due to our aging society and excessive sun exposure during recreational activities.
1 Memon et al. Br J Dermatol. 2000 Jun; 142 (6):1154-9.
2 Marks et a., Br J Dermatol. 1986 Dec; 115 (6): 649-55.
3 Frost & Green „Br J Dermatol, 1994 Oct; 131 (4): 455-64
No one can tell the patient whether and which of the commonly multifocal lesions will eventually evolve into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Although according to data from the German Cancer Society (DKG) every year around 200,000 people develop skin cancer, to date only 6 percent of patients with actinic keratosis are treated. However, on their ONKO Internet portal the dermatological societies agree with the DKG in their recommendation: “Since actinic keratosis lesions will become spreading squamous cell carcinomas in approximately 10 percent of the cases, they should as a rule be treated.”
Multiple actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinomas have been recognized in germany as occupational diseases since January 2015, provided a clearly increased work-related risk of disease than in the remaining population is present —e.g. in the construction and building industry or in agriculture and forestry. If the treatment is paid for by the employer’s liability insurance association, the patient has a lifelong claim to the reimbursement of medical costs.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly effective, clinically proven treatment for actinic keratosis. It selectively destroys the tumor cells in the epidermis while sparing the healthy surrounding tissue. National and international guidelines have therefore expressed a class IA recommendation for PDT in the treatment of AK.
The choice of light source plays a crucial role in the therapeutic process. With classic PDT, however, the adverse effects that accompany this type of therapy increase with the effectiveness of the cold LED red light (especially pain and burning, hypertension, edema), in particular during field treatment. The result: patients who experienced intensive side effects with conventional PDT may reject any further treatment. Since the treatment is less painful or not at all, the “natural daylight” PDT (NDL-PDT), where patients are treated with the application of the photosensitizer and subsequent daylight exposure, is gaining in popularity.
The disadvantage of this treatment is that it cannot be standardized. The success of this highly tolerable daylight PDT depends on the geographical location, the temperature, the time of day and year, as well as on the current weather conditions. Therefore, this form of therapy is not standardized and its use is limited by the changing meteorological conditions over the year. Another disadvantage of NDL-PDT is the lack of monitoring, because patients are not under the supervision of a dermatologist during the treatment and are exposed again to UV rays.
With IndoorLux©, GERDES MEDICAL AG presents a new concept of stimulated daylight PDT (SDL-PDT). Just as NDL-PDT, SDL-PDT convinces with its high effectiveness and excellent tolerability. This was impressively substantiated by a retrospective clinical study involving 32 patients with AK 4.
4 BrJ Dermatol 2015 Apr; 172 (4):1146-8.
IndoorLux© produces a light spectrum between 570 and 630 nm. The effective spectrum therefore lies outside the UV range. At the same time, the necessary minimum energy for the effect of the phototoxic reaction is always available. Protoporphyrin IX is activated continuously and in small doses, which makes the treatment virtually painless for the patient.
The optimal illumination for the treatment room can be customized to its size. The lights are integrated into the ceiling and do not come into direct contact with the patient.
Light distribution of IndoorLux© in the PDT room
IndoorLux© can be installed smoothly and cleanly in every room of a dermatologist’s practice.
Low installation costs:
The number of lights needed for uniform irradiation and a defined intensity is embedded into a prefabricated ceiling structure, such as a suspended ceiling, and connected to the existing electrical wiring. The system requires a standard 3×16 Amp power supply. The room must be aired and ventilated. Any existing windows can be darkened.
Flexible:
The optimal room size is 3m x 4m – if needed, the system can be adapted. The required artificial light sources are operated in suitable light fittings in the treatment room. The interior design can be arranged to personal taste. During the treatment, patients can have a conversation, rest, listen to music, watch television or read. The room can be used for other purposes when not needed for PDT
Low-maintenance and user-friendly:
As an approved medicinal product, the system requires maintenance once a year and is otherwise robust and low-maintenance. Individual modules can be exchanged at any time, if necessary. Operation is simple and requires only a short introduction; practice staff do not need special training courses.
After start-up, the treatment room is uniformly artificially illuminated by the lighting system.
