Mepilex Lite dressing in the management of radiation dermatitis—a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy, often affecting patient comfort and may lead to treatment interruption. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mepilex Lite dressings compared to standard care in managing radiation dermatitis.

Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, and MEDLINE was conducted up to July 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Mepilex Lite to standard of care in patients undergoing radiation therapy were included. Primary outcomes included changes in dermatitis severity using validated grading systems. Secondary outcomes were time to wound healing, patient-reported symptoms, and quality of life. Meta-analyses were conducted using Revman, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Three RCTs involving 186 patients were included. Two studies focused on breast cancer and one on nasopharyngeal cancer. Mepilex Lite was applied at the onset of radiation-induced erythema in two studies and after the development of moist desquamation in one study. Meta-analysis of RISRAS scores from two studies showed significant improvement with Mepilex Lite: combined score mean difference −0.98 (95% CI, −1.41 to −0.56, p < 0.01; I² = 96%) and researcher-assessed score −0.57 (95% CI, −1.03 to −0.11, p = 0.02; I² = 93%). Time to wound healing was reported using different measures across studies, preventing meta-analysis. Zhong et al. reported faster healing with Mepilex Lite (median 16 vs. 23 days, p = 0.009), while Paterson et al. observed reduced severity and duration of moist desquamation. Patient-reported outcomes favored Mepilex Lite for symptom relief, including pain and itchiness.

Mepilex Lite dressings may help reduce the severity and duration of radiation dermatitis and may improve patient comfort. However, due to significant heterogeneity among studies and variation in outcome reporting, further studies are required to confirm these findings.