28 Aug Photodynamic Therapy Removed More Actinic Keratoses Than Cryotherapy

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Gayatri Patel, MD, MPH
Division of General Medicine
UC Davis Medical Center

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Patel: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to determine the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of actinic keratoses relative to other common treatments. We included only randomized controlled trials and preformed a meta-analysis on homogenous studies. The primary finding of the study was that PDT has a better chance of removing actinic keratoses on the face or scalp than treatment with cryotherapy.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Patel: PDT is a relatively newer method of treatment, compared to cryotherapy, which is the standard of care for many physicians in the treatment of actinic keratoses.  This study provides more information on its efficacy relative to cryotherapy. PDT often takes more time to perform than cryotherapy, but is associated with excellent cosmetic results and higher patient satisfaction.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Patel: Given the limited data available for PDT versus other common treatment modalities, such as Imiquimod, Fluorouracil, and Carbon dioxide laser, more well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to make definitive conclusions regarding effectiveness of these comparators in the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Citation:

Last Updated on September 14, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD