Date of Award
2018
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Department Chair
John Cavenagh, MBA, PhD, PA-C
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not photodynamic therapy improves the survival rate of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Study Design: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study published in 2014, 2014, and 2016.
Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study examining photodynamic therapy in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Data sources were found using PubMed and EBSCOhost.
Outcome(s) Measured: Overall survival and progression free survival were measured in patients who underwent photodynamic therapy for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Each study analyzed overall survival using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve.
Results: The RCT by Hauge et al. found photodynamic therapy to improve overall survival rate in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma compared to patients who did not receive photodynamic therapy. The RCT by Park et al. found photodynamic therapy plus oral flouropyrimidine to improve overall survival over photodynamic therapy alone. The retrospective cohort study by Strand et al. was found to show no significant difference in overall survival with patients who underwent ERCP-directed radiofrequency ablation versus ERCP-directed photodynamic therapy.
Conclusions: There is conflicting evidence as to whether photodynamic therapy improves the survival rate of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Further
Recommended Citation
Hafer, Tyler C., "Does Photodynamic Therapy Improve The Survival Rate Of Patients With Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma?" (2018). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 344.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/344