PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR EARLY TONGUE CANCER

ABSTRACT

The standard methods of treatment in oral and maxillofacial cencer are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But all of them can induce significant morbidities, surgery in this area can cause remarkable junctional and esthetic problems. The applications of photodynamic therapy(PDT) has been studying and trying in these days to minimize post-treatment complications. It can almost directly affect tumor cells except surrounding normal tissues, so we are able to reduce post-operative complications. But there can be a couple of complications after PDT, as like skin photosensitivity, so therapists must attend to its use and completely understand their mechanism before doing it. In our clinic, PDT was tried in an early tongue cancer patient using topically applied delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA). The 64-year-old man was gargled with 5% delta-ALA 4 hours before irradiation. The previous punched biopsy was reported as well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma(T1N0M0). Light of 635nm wave-length from argon-pumper dye laser was used. Total 150J/cm2 was applied. After 10 days, PDT was applied again in a small suspicious area, 10 days after then, small area was excised and examined histologically. It was revealed as cancer free. Now, the patient was periodically checked up. Conclusively, PDT can be thought to be a acceptable alternative and promising method in treating of early oral and maxillofacial cancer.