Clinical Quiz: Combination Therapies for Actinic Keratosis from 2021 AAD Guidelines

The management of actinic keratosis continues to evolve, with combination therapies emerging as a strategy to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce recurrence rates. The 2021 guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) highlight the advantages of combining procedural and pharmacologic therapies, particularly for patients with extensive lesions or field cancerization.¹ Studies indicate that combining modalities such as cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and topical agents can improve lesion clearance and sustain longer-term remission.

Combination therapy may involve sequential or concurrent use of treatments, with regimens tailored to individual patient needs. The role of emerging strategies, including the integration of PDT with immune-modulating agents, is also gaining attention. However, selecting appropriate combination treatments requires balancing efficacy, side effects, and patient adherence.

This quiz will test knowledge of the rationale behind combination therapies, optimal treatment sequencing, and strategies for improving patient outcomes.

Editor's Note: This quiz was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

Reference:

1. Eisen DB, Dellavalle RP, Frazer-Green L, Schlesinger TE, Shive M, Wu PA. Focused update: Guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(2):373-374.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2022.04.013.