Photodynamic diagnosis and treatment of bronchial cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of malignancy and its incidence increases worldwide. The disease develops deceitfully and only a small proportion of cancers is detected early enough to be treated radically. The main risk factor is cigarette smoking. Other risk groups consist of patients with various occupational hazards, with family history of lung cancer or those already treated for the disease. The risk is usually multiplied when smoking coexists with other risk factors. Considering terrifying epidemiologic data, methods of screening and early detection of the disease should be urgently elaborated and should cover well defined risk groups. Photodynamic bronchoscopy allows an early detection of pre-invasive lesions and carcinoma in situ, as well as of synchronous or metachronous lesions in patients with already detected disease. The use of photosensitizers permits to apply of laser therapy. In the present work, photodynamic diagnosis and treatment of bronchial cancer are reviewed. Although both sensitivity and specificity of photodynamic diagnosis is as yet not well established, the method may be suggested as a future screening tool in a population with present or past occupational hazard.