Skin cancer light therapy 'fails to win provisional support'

5^th January 2011 -- The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says a high tech ‘sticking plaster’ used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer, has failed to win provisional support for mainstream NHS funding.

Ambulight PDT delivers therapy for non-melanoma skin cancer. Most photodynamic therapy treatment utilises large static light sources, but the Ambulight PDT device can be used in a local clinic without the need for a hospital appointment.

The lower irradiance of Ambulight PDT is claimed to reduce the pain experienced by the patient compared to treatment with conventional light sources.

In a statement, Dr Carole Longson, Director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, says: “Whilst Ambulight PDT is an exciting and innovative device it is still early days and, given that treatment options in this area are complex, unfortunately there isn’t a substantive evidence base overall to determine the place for adoption of this new technology, relative to others. However it is very important to note that this draft outcome doesn’t mean that the device should not be used; it remains one of a range of potential options on offer for treating non-melanoma skin cancer.

Consultation on the device closes on 2nd February.