title: Photodynamic therapy in the management of lesions of the head and neck.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising and effective treatment for lesions of the head and neck. It uses illumination with light of a specific wavelength, which activates a photosensitising drug in the presence of oxygen. It can be used in combination with other treatments or on its own, and results in the cellular destruction of the lesion through a free-radical process. Photosensitisers can be applied topically or given systemically depending on the lesion being treated. Results indicate that PDT is an effective adjunct to standard conventional treatments. We review its use.
authors.affiliation: King's College London School of Medicine, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London, UK. ben.c.green@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Alistair R M
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D005609:Free Radicals; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents