L.S.Handikin
ORL&HN Surgery
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a (relatively) new modality in cancer therapy.
It is based on the selectivity of cancer cells to retain a number of photosensitizers (in comparison to normal cells).
Following activation of the drugs (photosensitizer) by a light of a specific wavelength delivered through fiber optic, a selective necrosis will take effect only on cancerous tissue.
The tumour is selectively destructed by fiber optic delivery of relatively low light energy.
There is interval time of the photosensitizer injected intravenously and light illumination due to the longer capacity of cancer cells to retain the drug.
The normal cells will escape the photochemical destruction of PDT.
The author will describe application of PDT in nasopharyngeal cancer which nowadays could be considered as an effective local treatment for recurrent or persistent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Keywords: photodynamic therapy,nasopharyngeal cancer,photosensitizer,light energy
Abstract of paper presented to Scientific Symposium of Recent Advances in Cancer Diagnosis&Therapy, multi-disciplinary aproach
in conjunction with the Grand Opening of Gading Cancer Center,March 14-16,2008,Gading Pluit Hospital,Jakarta,Indonesia
Slide:Post PDT endoscopy of nasopharynx cancer with necrosis
