High‐power laser photobiomodulation therapy for immediate pain relief of refractory oral mucositis

Abstract

AbstractPurposeWe aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high‐power (class IV) laser photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for immediate pain relief due to oral mucositis (OM) refractory to recommended first‐line therapy.MethodsThis retrospective study included 25 cancer patients with refractory chemotherapy‐ or radiotherapy‐induced OM (16 and 9 patients, respectively) that were treated for pain relief with an intraoral InGaAsP diode laser (power density = 1.4 W/cm2). Pain was self‐assessed immediately before and after laser treatment using a 0‐to‐10 numeric rating scale ([NRS], “0” = no pain, “10” = intolerable pain).ResultsPatients reported an immediate decrease in pain following 94% (74 of 79) of the PBM sessions, in 61% (48 sessions) the pain reduction was over 50%, and in 35% (28 sessions) the initial pain was completely eliminated. There were no reports of increased pain post‐PBM. For chemotherapy and radiotherapy‐treated patients, mean reduction in pain NRS post‐PBM was 4.8 ± 2.5 (p < 0.001) and 4.5 ± 2.8 (p = 0.001), indicating a post‐PBM reduction of 72% and 60% of the initial pain level, respectively. The analgesic benefit of PBM remained for a mean of 6.0 ± 5.1 days. One patient reported a transient burning sensation after one PBM session.ConclusionsHigh‐power laser PBM may provide nonpharmacologic, patient‐friendly, long‐lasting, rapid pain relief for refractory OM.