title: Application of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of premalignant and malignant changes of head and neck.
abstract: Head and neck neoplasms are one of the most common carcinomas and their main etiological factor is tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse. There are about 7000 new cases noted in Poland yearly. Radiotherapy (radical or palliative), chemotherapy (neoadjuvant, adjuvant or combined with radiotherapy) and surgery aimed basically at tumor radical removal are methods used in the treatment of these neoplasms. In the case of a recurrence, surgery and radiotherapy are applied. The decision concerning the type of therapy is made on the grounds of a complete clinical picture and results of laboratory tests. The patient is offered the solution which gives the highest opportunity of achieving a optimal therapeutical effect at a possibly minimal risk. Literature analysis confirms that photodynamic diagnostics and therapy give a chance of early detection and effective treatment of preneoplastic and neoplastic states in the head and neck region. Photodynamic therapy is characterized by especially high efficacy in the treatment of changes in the early stages of clinical advancement. It can also play a significant role as an adjuvant intraoperative therapy in the case of advanced clinically tumors and also as a palliative treatment, being one of the elements of a complex therapy. The study is an overview of current scientific knowledge concerning the possibilities of photodynamic diagnostics and therapy application in the case of head and neck tumors, which was presented at the medical conference in Shanghai.
authors.affiliation: Center for Laser Diagnostic and Therapy, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieroń
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kościarz-Grzesiok
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawczyk-Krupka
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sieroń-Stołtny
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misiak