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HIGH DOSE PHOTOIRRADIATION THERAPY OF HUMAN TUMORS USING THE GOLD METAL VAPOR LASER
Author(s) -
Morstyn G.,
Kaye A. H.,
Thomas R.,
Macrae F.,
Abbott M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1987.tb04873.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rectum , mediastinitis , esophagus , gastroenterology , ascites , esophageal cancer , glioma , surgery , cancer , cancer research
The gold metal vapor laser (GMVL; Quentron, Adelaide, South Australia) produces up to 6.0 W of power and this has allowed the study of high dose and high dose rate photoirradiation therapy. We have undertaken 35 treatments in 31 patients with tumors in the rectum (4), esophagus (8), brain (17) and malignant ascites (2). All patients were carefully monitored for complications and, where possible, assessed for response. Dose rates of 1.2‐2.2 W were used and doses were estimated to be between 72 and 245 J cm −2 . The major complications noted were in the patients with esophageal cancer and included fever 1‐10 days following therapy in 5/8. There was one early death at 10 days and 3/8 patients developed mediastinitis. Of the 4 anorectal tumors treated (8 treatments) there was one bleed 10 days after treatment and no other local complications. One of 2 patients with malignant ascites developed a bowel obstruction immediately after treatment. Of the 17 patients with glioma there was 1 early death at day 10 and no local complications. We conclude that phototherapy of the gastrointestinal tract with the GMVL is tolerable using high dose rates and doses but significant complications occur. Therapy of intra‐cranial tumors with similar doses and dose rates is not associated with local complications. The basis for this may be the different anatomy, the content of HpD in different sites, and use of steroids in cerebral tumors, or the better control of hyperthermia in the brain.