To the Editor.—
Serious adverse effects caused by treatment of vitiligo with methoxsalen and ultraviolet (UV) radiation have not, to our knowledge, been reported. However, skin cancer and ocular damage may develop in animals during treatment with methoxsalen and UV radiation.1,2Photochemotherapy with methoxsalen and high-intensity, long-wave UV radiation (black light) has recently been introduced as a treatment for psoriasis.3 In contrast to vitiligo patients, a majority of patients with psoriasis have been previously treated with potential carcinogens such as arsenic and x-ray or UV radiation.We observed that treatment with methoxsalen and sunlight was followed by a development of multiple basal cell carcinomes in a patient who previously had been treated with arsenic for vitiligo.
Report of a Case.—
A 41-year-old woman who had had vitiligo since about 14 years of age was examined in our department for the first time in 1971. The patient had hitherto