The Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy and Cryotherapy on Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is known as the most common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer worldwide. The aim of this study is to show the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy and cryotherapy in patients with BCCs with the use of meta-analyses in order to see if there is a possible superiority of one treatment over the other. We searched the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, OVID, Embase, Science Direct, JAMA Dermatology, and Research Gate in April 2020. The search combined related terms for cryotherapy, BCC, cryosurgery, cryoablation, laser and photodynamic therapy. The comparison of photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs cryotherapy on recurrence rate yielded no statistically significant results (Figure 2; N = 3 randomized control trials [RCTs]; Summary Random Effects OR = 4.99; P = .212). We observed large heterogeneity (I = 87.3%), but no indication for small study effects (Egger's test, P = .02). Regarding the comparison of PDT vs cryotherapy on complete response, again no statistically significant results were observed (Figure 3; N = 2 RCTs; Summary Fixed Effects OR = 0.83; P = .538) and no indication of heterogeneity (I = 0%). Our meta-analyses indicated that the comparison of PDT vs cryotherapy has no statistically significant results. Therefore, these therapies seem to have similar therapeutic effects.