Clinical Quiz: Actinic Keratosis Cryosurgery and PDT Recommendations

Author(s):

Key Takeaways

Cryosurgery is recommended as a first-line treatment for isolated actinic keratosis lesions due to its ease and effectiveness.
Photodynamic therapy is emphasized for patients with multiple lesions, offering superior cosmetic outcomes and targeting subclinical lesions.
Considerations for PDT include treatment protocols, patient tolerance, and recurrence rates when selecting a management approach for actinic keratosis.

This quiz, the second in a series of 4, tests your knowledge on cryosurgery and PDT recommendations for actinic keratosis based on the 2021 AAD guidelines.

The 2021 guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reaffirm cryosurgery as a first-line therapy for isolated actinic keratosis lesions due to its ease of use, accessibility, and effectiveness. However, the guidelines also emphasize photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an important alternative, particularly for patients with multiple lesions or field cancerization, as it can target both clinically visible and subclinical actinic keratosis while providing superior cosmetic outcomes.

While PDT has demonstrated strong efficacy, factors such as treatment protocols, patient tolerance, and recurrence rates must be considered when selecting an approach. This quiz will evaluate knowledge of the indications, mechanisms, and best practices for cryosurgery and PDT in the management of actinic keratosis.

Cryosurgery is a first-line treatment for AK and is strongly recommended.

Editor's Note: This quiz was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

Reference:

Eisen DB, Dellavalle RP, Frazer-Green L, Schlesinger TE, Shive M, Wu PA. Focused update: Guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(2):373-374.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.013