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. 2021 Oct 25;6:63. doi: 10.21037/tgh.2020.02.03

Table 2. This table summarizes the outcomes compared to stents alone, adverse effects, and practical considerations to take into account prior to application.

Therapy PDT RFA IB
Outcomes compared to stent alone Longer survival Improved survival Lower stent occlusion rate
Improves biliary drainage Improved stent patency Prolonged mean survival
Better quality of life Improved stricture diameter
Improvement in performance status
Longer stent patency
Adverse effects Phototoxicity Abdominal pain Biliary obstruction
Erythema Cholangitis Cholangitis
Pruritus Acute cholecystitis Hemobilia
Blistering Pancreatitis Gastrointestinal bleeding
Pain Liver infarction Duodenal stenosis
Biliary obstruction Hepatic
Pseudoaneurysm
Hemobilia
Practical considerations Expensive May require more than 1 session Radioactive material
Three-day interval between photosensitizer administration and photoactivation Low energy settings in intrahepatics Short half life
750 sec per application Challenges in handling, storing, delivering substances

PDT, photodynamic therapy; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; IB, intraluminal brachytherapy.