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ABSTRACT

The Food and Drug Administration specifies a prescription for Photodynamic Therapy that cites the photosensitizing DRUG ADMINISTERED and the activating LIGHT ADMINISTERED to a patient. However, the proper dose is specified by the DRUG ACCUMULATED in the tissue and the LIGHT RECEIVED by that tissue. Pharmacokinetics affect the drug accumulation. Tissue optics, such as the degree of inflammation, affect the light received. This paper outlines a pilot clinical study that measures the accumulation of photosensitizing drug using fluorescence and the optical properties using white-light reflectance to calculate the light penetration into the tissue. The study is pertinent to bulky tumors such as esophageal and bronchial tumors.

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