[Photodynamic therapy in lung cancer].

242 patients with malignant tumors of various organs were treated by photodynamic therapy since January 1980. In this study the effects of photodynamic therapy for lung cancer was evaluated in 100 cases. According to the UICC clinical stage, 19 cases were stage Ia and were strongly suspected early stage on the basis of endoscopic findings, 16 were stage Ia and Ib, 11 were stage II, 38 were stage III and 16 were stage IV. This new therapy was shown to be effective in the curative treatment of early stage and in the palliative treatment of advanced lung cancer cases. Side effects included sensitivity to sunlight in 88%, dermatitis in 4%, bronchial perforation in 2% and obstructive pneumonia in 4%.