Photodynamic therapy: The minimally invasive surgical intervention for advanced and/or recurrent tongue base carcinoma

Abstract Introduction The management of tongue base carcinoma continues to be a major challenge in head and neck oncology. Our aim in this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome following ultrasound‐guided interstitial photodynamic therapy (US‐iPDT) of stage IV tongue base carcinoma patients. Patients' reports on quality of life with clinical and radiological evaluation were the main end point parameters used to assess the outcome. Material and Methods Twenty‐one consecutive patients referred to the UCLH Head and Neck Centre for treatment of advanced and/or recurrent tongue base cancer were included in this study. Two‐thirds of the referred patients had not been offered further conventional therapeutic options apart from palliative treatment. It was decided, by the multidisciplinary team, that the only available option was to offer US‐iPDT under general anesthesia, using mTHPC (Foscan®) as the photosensitizing agent. Following treatment, patients were followed‐up for a mean of 36 months (min. 21, max. 45). Results Nine of the 11 patients who presented with breathing problems reported improvement after treatment. Also, 19 of the 21 patients reported improvement of swallowing. Improvement of speech was reported by 11 of 13 patients. Clinical assessment showed that more than half of the patients had “good response” to the treatment and about a third reported “moderate response.” Radiological assessment comparing imaging 6‐week post‐PDT to the baseline showed stable pathology with no change in size in four patients, minimal response in seven patients, moderate response in six patients, and significant response in two patients. Eight patients died; four of which due to loco‐regional disease; and two from distant tumor spread. Kaplan–Meir survival curve was generated from the survival and follow‐up data. Conclusions Photodynamic therapy is a successful palliative modality in the treatment of advanced and/or recurrent tongue base carcinoma. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:283–292, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.