Four Cases Illustrate the Development Direction of Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Tumors

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for malignant tumors has emerged as a treatment option with unique advantages in preserving patients' appearance and organ function. Four cases illustrate its potential in this area. In cases of facial squamous cell carcinoma and tongue cancer, PDT successfully treated the tumors while preserving the patients' facial aesthetics and tongue function respectively. Conversely, patients with maxillary sinus cancer and another case of tongue cancer faced disfigurement and functional loss due to surgery and radiotherapy. Despite lacking strong evidence-based support to be considered a first-line treatment for these cancers, PDT's ability to preserve patient appearance and organ function when applied promptly after tumor recurrence suggests it may have a pivotal role in certain scenarios. These cases argue that PDT could be ideally suited for situations where preserving patient quality of life is paramount, making it a valuable option in the therapeutic arsenal against malignant tumors.