What is Photydynamic Therapy?
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a two-stage treatment that combines applying a drug(photosensitizer) and then waiting for a period of time before shining light energy to the area. The goal is to destroy cancerous and precancerous cells after light activation.
The photosensitizer is nontoxic until it is activated by light. The photosensitizer is selectively taken up in bad cells. Then, after light activation, the photosensitizer becomes toxic to the targeted tissue.
What are some of the benefits?
PDT can be used as a field treatment, meaning that instead of just treating specific lesions, it can be placed over a larger region to treat that whole region.
PDT is done in the office as a procedure and therefore sometimes is covered by insurance better than expensive prescription medications.