More fully "extracorporeal photopheresis". Photodynamic therapy of blood as it circulates outside the body, used especially in the treatment of certain haematological malignancies and autoimmune disorders.
Origin
1980s. From photo- + aphaeresis, after plasmapheresis.
Definition of photopheresis in US English:
photopheresis
noun
Medicine
More fully "extracorporeal photopheresis". Photodynamic therapy of blood as it circulates outside the body, used especially in the treatment of certain haematological malignancies and autoimmune disorders.
Origin
1980s. From photo- + aphaeresis, after plasmapheresis.