Treatment of oral mucositis in pediatric oncological patients using low power laser: a systematic review

One of the most common complications in radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment is oral mucositis (OM). OM affects between 80 and 90% of children undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or bone marrow transplant. It has been suggested that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce the intensity of oral mucositis as well as associated pain. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing pain associated with oral mucositis in children with cancer.

We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The search for studies was performed in the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, using Mesh terms and specific PICO criteria. Randomized clinical trials published between January 2013 and November 2023 were included, with participants aged 1 to 18 undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

We found six randomized clinical trials with a total of 437 patients. Five studies reported an improvement in pain reduction, and four of them reported a reduction in the grade of oral mucositis. The most commonly used wavelength was 660 nm, with a power of 100–150 mW, for an application time of 25 s, and an application area of 0.4 cm2.

In pediatric and young cancer patients, the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces the severity of mucositis and oral pain. Further research is recommended to determine the optimal parameters for LLLT in this patient group, ensuring studies with high methodological quality.