Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that involves light-sensitive medicine and a light source to destroy abnormal cells.

It can be used to treat some skin and eye conditions, as well as certain types of cancer.

On their own, the medicine and light source are harmless, but when the medicine is exposed to the light, it activates and causes a reaction that damages nearby cells.

This allows small abnormal areas of tissue to be treated without the need for surgery.

Uses for photodynamic therapy (PDT)

PDT can be used to treat abnormal cells in parts of the body that a light source can reach, such as the skin, eyes, mouth, food pipe (oesophagus) and lungs.

Conditions sometimes treated with PDT include:

actinic keratoses – dry, scaly patches of skin caused by damage from years of sun exposure that could become cancerous if not treated
Bowen's disease – a very early form of skin cancer
basal cell carcinoma – a type of skin cancer
macular degeneration – an eye condition that can lead to vision loss
Barrett's oesophagus – changes in the cells in the lining of your lower food pipe (oesophagus) that could become cancerous if not treated
oesophageal cancer, mouth cancer and lung cancer – PDT can cure some cancers if used in the early stages, or offer relief from symptoms in more advanced cases

PDT also shows promise in treating some other types of cancer, as well as warts, acne and extramammary Paget's disease (a pre-cancerous condition that affects skin in and around the groin).

What happens during photodynamic therapy (PDT)

PDT is done in 2 stages.

1) Preparation

First, you'll need to go into a hospital or clinic to be given the light-sensitive medicine.
Depending on the area of your body that's being treated, the medicine may be a cream, injection or special drink.
After you've had the medicine you may be asked to go home and return in a few hours or days – this will give the medicine a chance to build-up in the abnormal cells.

2) Light treatment

Later, you'll need to return to the hospital or clinic for the light treatment.
This will involve a lamp or laser being shone on to the treatment area for around 10 to 45 minutes.
To treat abnormal cells inside your body, such as in your lungs, an endoscope (a small, flexible tube with a light at the end) will be passed into your body.
Sometimes a local anaesthetic may be used to numb the treatment area or you may be given medicine to help you relax during the procedure.

After photodynamic therapy (PDT)

If your skin was treated, the area will be covered by a dressing that should remain in place for about a day. Your care team will tell you exactly how long.

Try to avoid scratching or knocking the treated area, and keep it as dry as possible.

Once you're advised to remove the dressing, you can wash and bathe as normal, as long as you gently pat the treated area dry.

A follow-up appointment at the hospital or clinic will be arranged to assess whether the treatment has been effective and decide if it needs to be repeated.

It usually takes around 2 to 6 weeks for the area to heal completely, depending on which part of the body has been treated and how big the area is.

Risks and side effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT)

PDT is a very safe and effective treatment when it's used for conditions it's been officially approved (licensed) to treat. But the following side effects are common:

a burning or stinging sensation while the light treatment is done – this usually passes soon after the treatment finishes
if the medicine was injected, your skin or eyes may be sensitive to sunlight and bright indoor lights for up to 6 weeks; speak to your care team about things you should do to protect your eyes and skin during this time

Other potential side effects depend on the area treated.

If your skin is treated, it may become red, swollen or blistered for a few days and have a scabby crust for a few weeks. Occasionally, it may become slightly darker or lighter and there may be some hair loss. This is usually temporary, but can sometimes be permanent.
Treatment of the mouth, oesophagus and lungs can cause coughing, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), painful breathing or breathlessness. This is usually temporary.
If your eyes are treated, there's a very small risk of permanent vision loss.

Talk to your doctors about the possible risks of PDT before having the treatment.

NGPDT and sonodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective and licensed treatment for several conditions.

It should not be confused with the unproven, unlicensed versions sold by some private clinics in the UK and overseas.

Clinics promoting these so-called "advanced" versions of PDT, called "next-generation PDT" (NGPDT) and "sonodynamic therapy" (SDT) sometimes claim they can treat deep or widespread cancers.

But these claims are not supported by scientific evidence and these treatments are not recommended, even as a last resort.

Page last reviewed: Sun Nov 2022 Next review due: Sun Nov 2022