REAL-TIME MONITORING OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OVER AN EXTENDED TIME

摘要

Progress of photodynamic therapy (PDT) administered over an extended period of time is monitored using an ultrasonic probe (30), which produces ultrasound images of an internal treatment site in real time. The ultrasound images indicate the extent and volume of an infraction zone within a tumor (20) or other diseased tissue at the internal treatment site within a patient's body . Light is administered to the internal treatment site from either an internal or external light source that produces light in a waveband corresponding to the characteristic absorption waveband a photoreactive agent that is administered to a patient. Prior to or shortly after initiating administrati on of the light therapy, a baseline ultrasound image is produced for comparison to subsequent ultrasound images made after the effects of the PDT on the diseased tissue have occurred.