Surgery Versus Interferon Alpha-2b Treatment Strategies for Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia: A Literature-Based Decision Analysis.
Cornea 2016;
35:613-8. [PMID:
26890663 DOI:
10.1097/ico.0000000000000766]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To compare treatment strategies for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), ranging from surgical excision to empiric topical interferon alpha-2b (IFN-α2b).
METHODS
A decision model was constructed to determine which of 4 treatment strategies minimized expected persistence/recurrence of disease in patients with OSSN: excision followed by repeat excision for positive surgical margins, excision followed by IFN-α2b for positive margins, incisional biopsy followed by IFN-α2b for positive biopsies, and empiric treatment with IFN-α2b. Probabilities were estimated from literature published between 1983 and 2015. Expected values for the probability of recurrence could range from 0 (no persistence/recurrence) to 1 (persistence/recurrence). Sensitivity analyses were performed for each variable.
RESULTS
Excision followed by IFN-α2b for positive margins was estimated to minimize persistence/recurrence of OSSN (expected value 0.13 versus 0.17 for empiric IFN-α2b, 0.22 for excision-only, and 0.30 for incisional biopsy-directed IFN-α2b). The optimal strategy was sensitive to 3 variables: efficacy of IFN-α2b, recurrence after negative surgical margins, and accuracy of excisional biopsy.
CONCLUSIONS
In our decision analysis using studies published between 1983 and 2015, surgical excision followed by IFN-α2b for positive margins is the favored strategy for minimizing persistence/recurrence of OSSN. Future prospective studies would add to the certainty of these conclusions.
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