Steeb T, Wessely A, Petzold A, et al. - In this systematic review and network meta-analysis involving 4,252 patients, therapy such as photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinate (ALA-PDT), imiquimod, 5%, photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL-PDT), and cryosurgery was linked to significant long-term effectiveness in the network meta-analysis (NMA).

• This research provides information that could be used in an evidence-based framework to choose therapies that result in long-term lesion clearing.

• Data were extracted and synthesized from 15 independent randomized clinical trials.

• For the outcome of participant complete clearance, ten studies were involved in an NMA, with ALA-PDT showing the best risk ratio (RR) when compared with placebo, followed by imiquimod, 5%, MAL-PDT, and cryosurgery.

• ALA-PDT also had the highest RR for lesion-specific clearance in the NMA.

• Because of the poor reporting of this outcome, no NMA was possible for participant partial clearance.