• The potential effect of photobiomodulation on oral mucositis induced by head and neck radio-chemotherapy: A literature review
  • Rashin Bahrami,1,* Shahriar Eftekharian,2 Raha Jafarieh,3 Maryam Pourhajibagher,4 Abbas Bahador,5
    1. Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    2. Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    3. School of Dentistry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    4. Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    5. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Oral mucositis (OM) is a frequent and debilitating side effect of head and neck radio-chemotherapy, characterized by painful ulcerative lesions that impair eating, speaking, and oral hygiene, ultimately reducing patients’ quality of life. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has recently emerged as a promising non-invasive approach for preventing and managing OM. However, existing studies report inconsistent outcomes, necessitating a systematic synthesis of evidence.
  • Methods: We conducted a literature review of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating PBMT in both adult and pediatric cancer patients. Studies were evaluated in terms of applied laser/LED parameters, treatment protocols, clinical efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes.
  • Results: Evidence from RCTs demonstrates that PBMT significantly reduces the severity and duration of OM, improves patient-reported outcomes, and decreases treatment-related morbidity. Mechanistic insights reveal that PBMT enhances cellular metabolism, reduces inflammation, alleviates pain, and promotes mucosal healing. However, heterogeneity in treatment parameters—such as wavelengths (630–980 nm), energy densities (2–6 J/cm²), and application durations (10–125 s/point)—limits cross-study comparability.
  • Conclusion: PBMT shows strong potential as a supportive cancer care modality for OM management, but widespread clinical adoption is limited by the lack of standardized protocols. Future large-scale RCTs with long term follow-up are needed to establish uniform guidelines for integrating PBMT into routine oncological care.
  • Keywords: Low-level laser; Photobiomodulation; Oral mucositis; Radio-chemotherapy