Photothermal therapy of vascular lesions and cancer

Heat can be used to kill cells. For example, the visible or infrared radiant energy produced by lasers can be used to coagulate and ablate tissue. In the near future, procedures such as laser induced photocoagulation of such diseases as cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia will be commonplace. Consequently, accurate optical and thermal dosimetry will be of paramount importance as will a good understanding of the response of cells to heat. The author discusses these three topics. With such information, it will be possible to answer the pragmatic questions posed by the surgeons using lasers; namely what time-temperature history is required to treat particular lesions, and how is it possible to prevent damage to healthy tissue proximal to the targeted tissue?