Observation of clinical effect of photodynamic therapy on oral leukoplakia in elderly patients

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy on oral leukoplakia in elderly patients. Methods In this prospective study, fifteen elderly patients with oral leukoplakia were treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy(ALA-PDT). After 2 hours of dressing, patients were irradiated using a 635nm semiconductor laser with the power density of 300mW/cm2.Each lesion was irradiated for 6 minutes with energy density of 100J/cm2.The curative effect was evaluated and the adverse reactions were recorded based on the observation of lesion changes. Results Of the 15 lesions in 15 patients, 4 lesions were treated once, 3 lesions were treated twice.And 6 lesions were cured after three treatments, and 2 patients were cured after four treatments.The average treatment frequency was(2.4±1.1)treatment.The postoperative adverse reaction was pain.The average visual analogue scale was(2.2±0.8)scores after operation, and the duration of pain was(2.6±1.1)days after operation.There was no recurrence for 3 to 9 months after operation.No abnormalities of oral sensation and function were found in patients. Conclusions ALA-PDT is an effective method for the treatment of oral leukoplakia in elderly patients. Key words: Aminolevulinic acid; Photo chemo therapy; Leukoplakia, oral