photodynamic therapy

views updated

photodynamic therapy (PDT, photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, photochemotherapy) (foh-toh-dy-nam-ik th'e-ră-pi) n. a treatment for some types of superficial cancers and for wet age-related macular degeneration. A light-sensitive agent is injected into the bloodstream, passes to the cancer cells or affected retinal blood vessels, and is activated by laser radiation, which destroys the cancer cells or seals the abnormal blood vessels.

More From encyclopedia.com