title: Efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a systemic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is primarily based on surgical excision using laser, a loop electrosurgical procedure, or a cold knife technique. Unfortunately, these treatments often lead to obstetrical problems during the subsequent pregnancy, particularly in young women. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses a topical or intravenous photosensitizer (PS) activated by a light source to ablate abnormal tissue, offers a minimally invasive alternative. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess the effectiveness and safety of PDT in the treatment of CIN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following Cochrane guidelines, a comprehensive systematic review of all clinical studies and reports examining the use of PDT for CIN was conducted. Study quality was assessed using the Oxford Levels of Evidence Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 14 studies included two randomized control trials (RCTs), one case-control study, and 11 case series. Among the 506 patients studied, 472 were included to study the effectiveness of PDT on CIN and 10 were lost to follow-up. An assessment of clinical effectiveness included the response of the lesion to treatment (may include lesion recurrence) reported by all 14 studies. The complete response rate (CRR) of PDT on CIN ranged from 0% to 100%. HPV eradication rate (HER) was reported in seven studies, with rates ranging from 53.4% to 80.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT is a safe and tolerable treatment for CIN. Evidence regarding the efficacy of PDT for CIN is conflicting, which may, in part, be explained by the limited number of controlled comparative clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: taoxiaohua@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiao Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Chronic Disease Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fa Shun
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Hospital of Jiangxi Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mei Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000401:mortality*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
keywords: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; Photodynamic therapy; Review