Glossary of Terms

AK	actinic keratosis
ALA	5-aminolevulinic acid; naturally occurring precursor to protoprophyrin IX in the haem biosynthetic pathway
ALA-S	5-aminolevulinic acid synthase, rate-limiting enzyme for haem synthesis
BCC	basal cell carcinoma
BD	bowen's disease
nBCC	nodular basal cell carcinoma
sBCC	superficial basal cell carcinoma
CR	complete response; complete disappearance of the treated lesion(s)
FD	fluorescence diagnosis
Fluorescence	luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiation at one wavelength followed by nearly immediate reradiation usually at a different wavelength and that ceases almost at once when the incident radiation stops
MAL	methyl aminolevulinate
MAOP	Methyl-[5-amino-4-oxopentanoat]; German term for MAL
Non-CR	non-complete response, any less than complete disappearance of the treated lesion(s)
NMSC	non-melanoma skin cancer
PAP	photoactive porphyrins
PDD	photodynamic detection
PDT	photodynamic therapy
PpIX	photoporphyrin IX; a potent natural photosensitiser
ROS	reactive oxygen species; an excited or higher energy form of oxygen
SCC	squamous cell carcinoma