Publicação
Impact of photodynamic therapy in oral mucositis: systematic review
| Resumo: | Oral mucositis is an inflammation of the mucosa and mucous membranes of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. It is often a consequence of treatments such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Although temporary, this condition can be painful and pose medical risks, requiring self-care and professional treatment. One of the treatments proposed for this debilitating condition is photodynamic therapy; it is a therapeutic option that uses light and photosensitizing agents (such as methylene blue, chlorin e6 and hypericin) and has proved effective in reducing inflammation and relieving pain, thus becoming a valid therapeutic alternative for other medical conditions as well. To formulate the research question, the PICO model was used. The main objective of this systematic review is to answer the following research question: “Is photodynamic therapy a valid treatment option for oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer?” The search, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, covered PubMed, SciELO, B-on and TRIP, using the Boolean connector “AND”. All available clinical trials on the topic were included; non-clinical studies or those not directly relevant were excluded. The studies identified indicate that PDT, alone or in combination with photobiomodulation, reduces pain, lowers the grade of mucositis and accelerates healing, without reporting significant adverse events. However, most trials have small sample sizes and heterogeneous protocols, which means the overall evidence is moderate. It is therefore concluded that PDT is safe and potentially applicable in daily clinical practice. Even so, owing to the small sample sizes and methodological variation, larger, well-designed studies with standardized parameters are required to definitively confirm its efficacy and establish robust clinical recommendations. |
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| Autores principais: | Rasuli, Raman |
| Assunto: | Oral mucositis Photodynamic therapy Treatment Clinical trial Mucosite oral Terapia fotodinâmica Tratamento Ensaio clínico |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Fernando Pessoa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional - Universidade Fernando Pessoa |
| Resumo: | Oral mucositis is an inflammation of the mucosa and mucous membranes of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. It is often a consequence of treatments such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Although temporary, this condition can be painful and pose medical risks, requiring self-care and professional treatment. One of the treatments proposed for this debilitating condition is photodynamic therapy; it is a therapeutic option that uses light and photosensitizing agents (such as methylene blue, chlorin e6 and hypericin) and has proved effective in reducing inflammation and relieving pain, thus becoming a valid therapeutic alternative for other medical conditions as well. To formulate the research question, the PICO model was used. The main objective of this systematic review is to answer the following research question: “Is photodynamic therapy a valid treatment option for oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer?” The search, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, covered PubMed, SciELO, B-on and TRIP, using the Boolean connector “AND”. All available clinical trials on the topic were included; non-clinical studies or those not directly relevant were excluded. The studies identified indicate that PDT, alone or in combination with photobiomodulation, reduces pain, lowers the grade of mucositis and accelerates healing, without reporting significant adverse events. However, most trials have small sample sizes and heterogeneous protocols, which means the overall evidence is moderate. It is therefore concluded that PDT is safe and potentially applicable in daily clinical practice. Even so, owing to the small sample sizes and methodological variation, larger, well-designed studies with standardized parameters are required to definitively confirm its efficacy and establish robust clinical recommendations. |
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