Potential applications of photoradiation therapy in head and neck surgery

Current theories of carcinogenesis suggest that premalignant changes should be expected in any area of the mucous membrane exposed to a carcinogen. The place of triple endoscopy in the workup and management of head and neck malignant neoplasms has been well established. Hematoporphyrin derivative has been shown to lend reproducible results in the study of tumor fluorescence. This compound has been used in in vitro and in vivo diagnosis and in the treatment of various tumors. It has not been used extensively in the head and neck, but its properties are ideal for diagnosis and treatment of selected head and neck tumors. Potential applications of photoradiation therapy in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery include detection of small primary tumors, delineation of resection margins, detection of early recurrences, and palliative and curative therapy of lesions.