Clinical experiences with photodynamic therapy for recurrent malignancies of the lower female genital tract.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Photofrin II was administered over a 7-year period to 17 patients with recurrent carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the vulva, vagina, and perianum. Ten patients were treated two or three times after average intervening periods of 23 and 19 months, respectively. A histologically complete response at 3 months after the PDT session was achieved for 27 of 38 (71%) anatomic sites.

Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Photodynamic therapy is an experimental modality for tumor treatment based on the combined action of the tumor-localizing agent, ie, hematoporphyrin derivative, and red light. From 1985 through 1989, 26 patients were treated using hematoporphyrin-derived drugs and 630-nm light delivered by a tunable dye laser. All patients had biopsy-proved squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and they had either failed the traditional treatment modalities or refused conventional therapies.

Removal of benign intraoral masses using the CO2 laser.

Benign soft tissue lesions of the mouth can be removed using the CO2 laser. This type of laser surgery is faster and offers less postoperative complication as compared with conventional surgery and electrosurgery. Presently, the CO2 laser can be used for intraoral biopsy of benign masses, gingivectomies, and frenectomies.