Clinical Quiz: Actinic Keratosis Cryosurgery and PDT Recommendations

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.

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