The efficacy of photodynamic therapy in rat tongue dysplasia

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has previously shown promising results in cancerous cell destruction. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment option on oral epithelial dysplasia in Wistar rats. Furthermore, microscopic effects of systemic versus topical administration of ALA before laser illumination was assessed. Thirty male Wistar rats (200- 250 grams) were used in the present study. Tongue dysplasia was induced by a daily delivery of a 20 ppm solution of 4-nitroquinoline -1- oxide (4NQO) for 3 months. Then, rats were divided into 3 groups of 10 including, group 1 that was received systemic ALA-based PDT (30 mg/kg ALA), group 2 that was received topical ALA-based PDT (20% ALA solution) and group 3 (control) which was left untreated. Tongue specimens were fixed for histopathological evaluation and dysplasia was graded at microscopic level. Data was compared between various treatment groups using Mann Whitney test (