[Photodynamic procedures in urology]

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been demonstrated to be an effective therapy for carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder. The data recorded in the various pilot studies are not comparable, because different photosensitizers, various irradiation modalities and different doses of photosensitizers have been used. Present activities include basic research on principles of action of PDT, the development of photosensitizers with better tumor selectivity, optimization of irradiation modalities, and prospective randomized clinical trials, e.g. in superficial bladder cancer. Photodynamic fluorescence diagnosis (PDD) can be performed easily in clinical conditions with the use of the topically applicable fluorescent marker delta amino levulinic acid (ALA). There is a need for controlled clinical trials to check the efficacy suggested for PDD by the very promising data yielded by pilot studies.