Pulse oximeter as a cause of skin burn during photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of variou s cancers, However, this technique has a major adverse effect, namely skin photosensitization, An unusual case of skin burn associated with pulse oxim etry during photodynamic therapy in a patient treated for an early esophage al tumor is a patient described. The patient, who was treated with mTHPC, suffered a second-degree burn on t he index finger with subsequent loss of the nail. The only previously repor ted case of such a complication occurred with Photofrin, whereby no tissue other than skin was damaged.