Photodynamic therapy for intracranial neoplasms. Literature review and institutional experience.

Primary malignant glial neoplasms of the central nervous system have a dismal 2-yr prognosis. An innovative approach to these formidable lesions is photodynamic therapy that employs a chemotherapeutic photosensitizing agent in combination with wavelength specific light to produce cytotoxic reactions capable of destroying neoplastic tissues. Animal and initial clinical studies of the application of photodynamic therapy to intracranial neoplasms have been promising. Parameters to optimize the efficacy of this treatment are under investigation. A review of the preclinical and clinical studies of photodynamic therapy for intracranial neoplasms is described.