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Photodynamic therapy
Source: Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 1, 2025 · 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 / The following types of treatment are used:
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that uses a drug and a certain type of light to kill cancer cells. A drug that is not active until it is exposed to light is injected into a vein or put on the skin. The drug collects more in cancer cells than in normal cells. For skin cancer, laser light is shined onto the skin and the drug becomes active and kills the cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy causes little damage to healthy tissue.
Source links and citations
Photodynamic therapy is also used to treat actinic keratoses.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice