# Successful Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Complicated by Myelodysplastic Syndrome Using Combined ALA‐PDT and Narrow‐Margin Excision: A Case Report

**Authors:** Yunwei Yang, Zhenlin Li, Long Wen, Yongxian Lai, Guolong Zhang

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.72256 · 2026-03-10

## TL;DR

A 77-year-old woman with skin cancer and a blood disorder was successfully treated with a combination of surgery and light-based therapy.

## Contribution

A successful treatment approach combining ALA-PDT and narrow-margin excision for high-risk cSCC patients with MDS is reported.

## Key findings

- Combining narrow-margin excision with ALA-PDT effectively treated cSCC in a patient with MDS.
- No recurrence was observed after six months of follow-up.
- This approach may be a valuable option for high-risk cSCC patients.

## Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common type of non‐melanoma skin cancer. When the cSCC patient is complicated by myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), treatment becomes particularly challenging due to immunosuppression, bleeding risk, and poor tolerance to conventional therapies. Here, we report a case of a 77‐year‐old woman with cSCC and MDS who was successfully treated by a combination of narrow‐margin surgical excision and 5‐aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT). No recurrence was observed during a six‐month follow‐up. This approach may offer a valuable therapeutic option for similar high‐risk cSCC patients.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** 5-aminolevulinic acid (PubChem CID 137)
- **Diseases:** Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (MONDO:0002529), Myelodysplastic syndromes (MONDO:0018881)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (MESH:D002294), MDS (MESH:D009190), bleeding (MESH:D006470), non-melanoma skin cancer (MESH:D012878)
- **Chemicals:** 5-aminolevulinic acid (MESH:C000614854), ALA (MESH:D000409)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12975406/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12975406