Photodynamic Therapy

What is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)?

PDT is a non-surgical treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) or pre-cancerous lesions such as  Actinic Keratoses (AK's) and Bowen's Disease. BCC is the most common form of skin cancer conventionally treated by surgical excision, cryotherapy with  liquid nitrogen, or localised radiotherapy.

How Does PDT Work?

PDT requires three key components for it to work: a photo-sensitizer, pure red light and tissue oxygen. It takes advantage ot the chemical interaction between light and a light-activated substance leading to a series of chemical reactions resulting in damage and death of tumour cells while leaving healthy surrounding cells unharmed.

Treatment

A visit to the clinic will take about 4 hours. The photo-sensitizer is  a cream ( MAL)  applied topically after gentle curettage to remove  any superficial scale. The area is covered to protect it from light for  three hours. The doctor then shines a pure red light onto the area where the cream has been  applied for 8-10 minutes. This may cause a prickly discomfort but pain killers are not normally required, a cooling spray can be used to reduce discomfort and the treatment can be paused for a short while if needed. The light and cream target the lesion cells, leaving the healthy cells unharmed.

One advantage of PDT is that is a highly effective non-surgical treatment for BCC's, AK's and Bowen's disease. Within a few days the treated area will scab over and flake away and  the accuracy of the treatment means the lesion is removed and scarring is minimal or not visible. PDT can be much less expensive than other methods. Post operative recovery is typically hours, rather than days or weeks.

Consultants Performing PDT

• Susan Mayou

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