USE OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE SOFT PALATE

A 53-gear-old white woman presented with a 5-month history of throat p ain. The soft palate was biopsied and histological examination confirm ed the diagnosis of infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma. She refused surgery and radiotherapy and was therefore offered photodynamic therap y which she accepted. She was treated with 20 J/cm(2) at 100 mW/cm(2) over a 3 cm area. She was discharged three days later having made an u ncomplicated recovery, though substantial analgesia was required. Heal ing was complete after 2 months, with no loss of palatal function and at most recent follow-up (16 months) there was no sign of residual dis ease and she remained well.