Endoscopic biliary treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma: A meta-analysis of survival outcomes and systematic review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA), percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA), and photodynamic therapy (PDT), when used in conjunction with conventional biliary stenting, have demonstrated a survival benefit in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. AIM: To compare pooled survival outcomes, adverse event rates, and mean stent patency for those undergoing these procedures. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review of published studies and abstracts from January 2011 to December 2020 was performed comparing survival outcomes in patients undergoing ERFA with stenting, biliary stenting alone, PRFA with stenting, and PDT with stenting for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). RESULTS: = 0.02). CONCLUSION: While further prospective, randomized studies are needed to assess efficacy of ERFA, our meta-analysis demonstrated that this technique offers endoscopists a reasonable palliative method by which to treat patients with unresectable CCA that results in longer survival as compared to biliary stenting alone, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with biliary stenting, and PDT with biliary stenting as well as an acceptable adverse event profile based on available published data.