# PDT

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pdt
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

Stands for Photodynamic Therapy. A medical treatment that uses a special light and a drug to kill cancer cells or treat skin problems.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Photodynamic Therapy. A two-stage medical procedure involving the administration of a photosensitising agent followed by exposure to specific wavelengths of light to induce selective tissue necrosis.

## Examples

- The doctor recommended PDT to treat his skin condition.
- After applying the light-sensitive cream, the patient waited three hours before the PDT session began to ensure maximum absorption.
- While PDT is primarily utilised for non-melanoma skin cancers, its application in treating actinic keratosis has shown high efficacy with minimal scarring compared to traditional surgical excision.

## Usage notes

- Usually treated as uncountable when referring to the therapy type; can be countable when referring to a specific session.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.