The clinical data of patients with airway malignant tumors treated by electronic bronchoscope intracavitary laser photodynamic therapy (PDT) were analyzed retrospectively, to explore the regularity of PDT treatment.

24 patients with airway malignant tumors treated by PDT were recruited in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of our hospital from February 2019 to March 2021. The general clinical data, PDT treatment and follow-up after treatment, as well as the characteristics of living and dead patients after treatment were analyzed.

As of August 7, 2021, the patients with the greatest benefit after PDT treatment had been followed up for 13.2 months, which was much longer than length of follow-up in patients with less benefit after PDT treatment [the overall survival (OS) of 4.7 months] (P=0.02). The former was mainly lumen wall type (80%), while the latter was mainly lumen type (50%) (P=0.034). The intraluminal lesions in the former were shorter than those in the latter (median 3 cm and 5 cm, respectively, P=0.03). The former was young, short course of disease and mainly adenoid cystic carcinoma, while the latter was old, long course of disease and mainly squamous cell carcinoma (P>0.05).

Patients with lumen wall type, short airway lesions, young, short course of disease and pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma may be benefit more from PDT treatment. On the contrary, patients with intraluminal type, long airway lesions, old age, long disease course and non-pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma may be benefit less from PDT treatment.