INTRODUCTION
Actinic keratosis is a chronic skin condition characterized by the formation of poorly delimited keratotic lesions of variable thickness that occur on areas of the skin subject to long-term exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation.1,2 It is the second most common condition diagnosed by dermatologists in the United States.3 Patients with actinic keratosis typically have fair skin and are of advanced age, representing a lifetime history of sun exposure.4-6 On average, most patients have 6 to 8 actinic keratoses that are surrounded by a field of photodamaged skin.1,4 The occurrence of actinic keratosis is a major cause of concern, as it can progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with the annual rate of transformation estimated at 0.025% to 16%.4 Actinic keratosis is the biggest risk factor for the development of SCC,7 and the risk of progression to SCC increases with the number of actinic keratoses.3 Therefore, preventative treatment is recommended toward the goal of reducing recurrence and the percentage of patients who progress to invasive SCC.6
The treatment approach for actinic keratosis is influenced bymany factors, including the number of keratotic lesions, the presence of actinic sun damage, and whether the patient is immunocompromised.6 Treatment options may be broadly classified into lesion-directed, field-directed, and combination therapies.6 Field-directed therapies target both visible and nonvisible, subclinical actinic keratoses; subclinical actinic keratoses are estimated to occur up to 10 times more frequently than visible ones.6,8 Field-directed therapies are strongly recommended for patients who have multiple (6 or more) actinic keratoses.6
Little comparative real-world data are available for actinic keratosis treatment options, either as monotherapies or in combination.7,9,10 To shed light on real-world outcomes and practice patterns for this condition, we conducted a retrospective medical chart review of patients with different actinic keratosis severities. Reported here are real-world outcomes indicating treatment effectiveness and safety in patients who received a range of therapies: procedural, lesion-directed, field-directed, or a combination of lesion- and field-directed therapy.
The treatment approach for actinic keratosis is influenced bymany factors, including the number of keratotic lesions, the presence of actinic sun damage, and whether the patient is immunocompromised.6 Treatment options may be broadly classified into lesion-directed, field-directed, and combination therapies.6 Field-directed therapies target both visible and nonvisible, subclinical actinic keratoses; subclinical actinic keratoses are estimated to occur up to 10 times more frequently than visible ones.6,8 Field-directed therapies are strongly recommended for patients who have multiple (6 or more) actinic keratoses.6
Little comparative real-world data are available for actinic keratosis treatment options, either as monotherapies or in combination.7,9,10 To shed light on real-world outcomes and practice patterns for this condition, we conducted a retrospective medical chart review of patients with different actinic keratosis severities. Reported here are real-world outcomes indicating treatment effectiveness and safety in patients who received a range of therapies: procedural, lesion-directed, field-directed, or a combination of lesion- and field-directed therapy.
