title: Laryngotracheal stenosis as a complication of photodynamic therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as an effective treatment for mucosal carcinomas such as early-stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Its advantage over other conventional modalities (surgery and chemoradiation) lies in its ability to treat disease while preserving the function and structure of the larynx. While not FDA-approved in the United States, it is used in some countries as a treatment for laryngeal cancer and is an area of active investigation. This report documents a severe complication of tracheostomy-dependent laryngotracheal stenosis resulting from PDT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods include a case report and review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 65-year-old male presented with severe stenosis of the supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic larynx following successful treatment of his laryngeal carcinoma with PDT. His presentation, staged airway reconstruction, and outcome are detailed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT is a minimally invasive technique which in early clinical trials has matched the effectiveness of conventional therapies for treating early head and neck squamous cell cancers. It uses a photosensitizing agent that is retained by tumor cells, allowing for the selective destruction of neoplastic cells. Permanent sequelae following treatment have rarely been reported; the most commonly described adverse effects include pain, hoarseness, and phototoxicity. However, our case report discusses the potential for significant laryngotracheal stenosis requiring airway reconstruction following PDT.
authors: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Head & Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, California, USA iakim@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors: Irene A
authors: IA
authors: Kim
authors: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Head & Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, California, USA Greater Los Angeles VAMC, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Long
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
keywords: cancer; laryngeal; laryngotracheal; photodynamic; photosensitizer; stenosis