Photodynamic therapy of genital condylomata in men

Current treatments for genital condylomata are not completely satisfactory, as they fail to clear lesions in a proportion of patients, and relapses after successful treatment are frequently seen. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been suggested as a novel treatment option. We performed a small open study using topical 5-ALA and red light (630 nm) in nine men with genital condylomata and a history of at least one previous unsuccessful conventional treatment. Complete cure was achieved in three patients, one of whom experienced a relapse after 3 weeks. Three patients showed partial responses, and three showed no response. Based on the currently available evidence, PDT is a viable treatment option for selected cases that fail to respond to other therapies.