Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on photodynamic therapy for advanced bronchial carcinoma.
Description
This procedure is used to treat inoperable non-small cell lung cancer.
Photodynamic therapy of bronchial carcinoma is a minimally invasive treatment, involving intravenous injection of a photosensitising agent, followed a few days later by photoradiation to the affected area through a bronchoscope. This is intended to reduce the bulk of the tumour, thereby reducing symptoms caused by bronchial obstruction.
Alternative treatments include debulking with biopsy forceps, radiotherapy and laser resection.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance.