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Hematoporphyrin photodynamic therapy: Is there truly a future in head and neck oncology? Reflections on a 5‐year experience
Author(s) -
Gluckman Jack L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199101000-00007
Subject(s) - field cancerization , photodynamic therapy , hematoporphyrin , medicine , head and neck , photosensitizer , oncology , dermatology , surgery , cancer , chemistry , organic chemistry
Photodynamic therapy, which consists of the selective destruction of tumors using a combination of a photosensitizer administered systemically (dihe‐matoporphyrin ether) and an argon dye‐pumped laser, has provoked profound interest amongst oncologists and has particularly titillated head and neck oncologists with its potential. Unfortunately, no multi‐institutional trials for head and neck tumors have been introduced, and the literature is replete with anecdotal reports from individual researchers on the management of advanced cancers for palliation, superficial early cancers, and field cancerization of the mucosa (“condemned mucosa”)‐ A personal 5‐year experience with 41 head and neck cancers was reviewed, as was the current literature. An attempt was made to place in perspective the true role and future direction of this technology.