ABSTRACT
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive treatment modality that involves the photoactivation of a sensitizing agent to destroy neoplastic cells. Over the past two decades, PDT has been used in dermatology to treat both precancerous lesions and select superficial nonmelanoma skin cancers in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. Solid organ transplant recipients, who are at a high risk for developing actinic keratoses, field cancerization, and multiple skin cancers, may benefit from regular PDT sessions either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatment modalities to improve overall patient outcomes. Various protocols, with several different photosensitizers and light sources, have been found to be effective in solid organ transplant patients, with the goal of treating and preventing disease, minimizing adverse reactions, and improving quality of life. This chapter focuses on the status of PDT, its approved indications, and evidence for the use of PDT in the transplant population, as well as ongoing efforts to optimize its overall use in dermatology.
