A case of basal cell carcinoma of the nose successfully treated with 5% imiquimod cream

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin lesion. The major aim in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma is the curative treatment, which is best done by Mohs excision of the neoplastic tissue. Despite the effectiveness of surgical excision, non-surgical treatment modalities may be preferred for large tumor size or poor patient performance status. Imiquimod may offer an alternative to surgical excision. Imiquimod is an immune modulator acting as IFN-α and other cytokine inducer, stimulating the innate immune response. Imiquimod's anti-tumor effect may be mediated by IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-12. At this time, there is no published experience on the treatment of basal cell carcinoma with imiquimod in Korea. We report a case of basal cell carcinoma of the nose successfully treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream.