OBJECTIVES: Preliminary results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of @entity1126 have shown astonishingly good results in the reduction of @entity1448 , improvement of quality of life, and even prolongation of the survival time. Unfortunately, the existing dye laser systems are large and costly, and their maintenance is expensive. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of a diode laser system for PDT of nonresectable @entity1126 . METHODS: Eight @entity1 with nonresectable @entity1126 were treated. Forty-eight hours after i. v. application of 2 mg/kg body weight of Photosan-3, light activation was performed by a transpapillary (four @entity1 ) or percutaneus (four @entity1 ) access. We used a cylindrical diffusor tip and illuminated using a wavelength of 633+/-3 nm and a total energy of 200 J/cm2. All @entity1 were additionally provided with @entity1157 endoprostheses after PDT. RESULTS: Four weeks after initial PDT all @entity1 showed a marked reduction of @entity1157 . The median serum @entity648 value declined from 5.8 mg/dl (2.0-10.1) to 1.0 mg/dl (0.8-4.4). The median survival time at the time of writing is 119 days (52-443). Five @entity1 are still alive. In four @entity1 we could change from percutaneous to transpapillary drainage after PDT, two @entity1 showed @entity166 . CONCLUSION: PDT with the diode laser system seems to be effective in reducing malignant @entity1157 . This treatment is minimally invasive and has a low specific complication rate. Randomized, controlled studies comparing PDT with the insertion of endoprostheses and long term follow-up of results are needed to confirm the promising short term results.

Photodynamic therapy for palliation of nonresectable XXXX --preliminary results with a new diode laser system.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1157 :: ('MESH:D001649', 'Disease') :: ['bile duct stenosis', 'bile duct'] @entity648 :: ('MESH:D001663', 'Chemical') :: ['bilirubin'] @entity1126 :: ('MESH:D001650', 'Disease') :: ['bile duct cancer'] @entity1448 :: ('MESH:D002779', 'Disease') :: ['cholestasis'] @entity166 :: ('MESH:D003141', 'Disease') :: ['infectious complications']
@entity1126 :: (MESH:D001650,Disease) :: ['bile duct cancer']
