TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Photodynamic therapy
Source: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: June 6, 2024 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview for LCH / Nine types of standard treatment are used to treat LCH.
Photodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment that uses a drug and a certain type of laser light to kill cancer cells. A drug that is not active until it is exposed to light is injected into a vein. The drug collects more in cancer cells than in normal cells. For LCH, laser light is aimed at the skin and the drug becomes active and kills the cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy causes little damage to healthy tissue. Patients who have photodynamic therapy should not spend too much time in the sun.
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In one type of photodynamic therapy, called psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, the patient receives a drug called psoralen and then ultraviolet A radiation is directed to the skin.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice