Analysis of Low Intensity Laser Therapy as adjuvant to Photodynamic Therapy in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

The combination of Low Intensity Laser Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy constitutes a minimal invasive and highly selective alternative for the treatment of skin tumors. Photodynamic effectiveness, specially the absence of recurrence, highly depends on the type of tumor, as well as on several parameters such as those related with the optical source. Therefore it is important to have predictive tools to provide an appropriate treatment planning. This work proposes the use of a complex predictive model that includes a three-dimensional meshing of the considered tumor geometry and the optical propagation therein by a three-dimensional Monte Carlo method. The proposed tool is applied to three different types of skin tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, nodular and infiltrative basal cell carcinomas. The estimated volume of treatment, depending on the tumor type and source parameters, allows an appropriate treatment planning in order to avoid undesirable tumor recurrence.