Actinic keratosis is not cancer but is treated because it may develop into cancer. Treatment of actinic keratosis may include the following:

• Topical chemotherapy.
• Cryosurgery.
• Electrodesiccation and curettage.
• Dermabrasion.
• Shave excision.
• Laser surgery.
• Photodynamic therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with actinic keratosis ¹. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Glossary Terms

A precancerous condition of thick, scaly patches of skin. Also called senile keratosis and solar keratosis.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

A procedure in which tissue is frozen to destroy abnormal cells. This is usually done with a special instrument that contains liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. Also called cryoablation.

Removal of tissue with a curette (a spoon-shaped instrument with a sharp edge).

The drying of tissue by a high-frequency electric current applied with a needle-shaped electrode.

Removal by surgery.

A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.

Treatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light. These activated drugs may kill cancer cells.

Treatment with anticancer drugs in a lotion or cream applied to the skin.