Successful treatment of laryngeal leukoplakia by photodynamic therapy with local application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and 635 nm laser: A case report

•Cases of photodynamic therapy for laryngeal leukoplakia were rarely reported since the difficulty in local administration of photosensitizer in the larynx.•We for the first time reported the method of local application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and irradiation of 635nm diode laser through the laryngoscope.•Localized laryngeal leukoplakia can be treated with photodynamic therapy without general anesthesia.•Photodynamic therapy may be an important treatment for laryngeal leukoplakia with good curative effect, favorable voice preservation and excellent safety. Laryngeal leukoplakia is a common disorder in otolaryngology. Presently, the most widely accepted treatment is suspension laryngoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. The high recurrence rate and hoarse voice after surgery make it an intractable disease to treat. Here we report a case of a 67-year-old man who was diagnosed of laryngeal leukoplakia 15 years ago and underwent 5 surgeries because of its repeated recurrences. Two sessions of photodynamic therapy were performed with local application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and irradiation of 635 nm diode laser. Complete response was observed and no recurrence was detected during follow-up of 6 months. Photodynamic therapy with local 5-ALA application and 635 nm laser is safe and well-tolerated. It is a promising modality for laryngeal leukoplakia.