[Photochemotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the vocal cords of early stage (Tis, T1)].

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a treatment which can prove interesting in head and neck oncology for small squamous cell carcinomas. We studied 33 patients with vocal cord squamous cell carcinoma at an early stage who have been treated by Photodynamic Therapy from 1986 to 1992. We used a Dye Laser Aurora which produces light with a wavelength of 630 nm. The intervention was done under general anesthesia, 72 hours after the injection of hematoporphyrin derivative. The mean and the maximum follow-up was respectively 66 and 93 months. The local control after an exclusive PDT was 73% at 3 years, 5 years, 7 years. If this method fails, a conventional treatment may be used.