OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy, adverse reaction and prognosis of liquid nitrogen freezing combined with 5-aminolaevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in the treatment of condyloma acuminatum in men.

METHODSWe collected medical histories and conducted physical examinations for 35 male patients with condyloma acuminatum in the outpatient department, and treated them by liquid nitrogen freezing combined with ALA-PDT every 7-10 days. We recorded the skin lesions and adverse events each time and followed up the patients at 4 and 24 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSThe 35 patients were aged 17-71 (median 31) years, and their average course of disease was 30-180 (mean 60) days. The skin lesion area was reduced remarkably after 3 times of liquid nitrogen freezing combined with ALA-PDT, 16-140 (median 38) mm2 for the first time, 6-63 (median 13) mm2 for the second, and 0-10 (median 3) mm2 for the third, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01). Two cases (5.7%) relapsed at 4 weeks and 4 cases (11.4% ) at 24 weeks.

CONCLUSIONLiquid nitrogen freezing combined with ALA-PDT is better than either liquid nitrogen freezing or ALA-PDT alone for the treatment of condyloma acuminatum in men.