Laser therapy as a treatment for chronic radiation fibrosis. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Chronic radiation fibrosis (CRF) is a long-term sequala of radiation therapy that has a significant impact on patient quality of life. There is no standard of care or single therapeutic modality that has been found to be consistently effective. OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience using fractional 10,600 nm carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser therapy and vascular laser therapy in a series of patients with CRF. METHODS: Patients presenting to the dermatology service for CRF were evaluated for laser therapy eligibility. Patients were eligible if they had a clinical diagnosis of CRF confirmed by physical examination. RESULTS: We identified five patients with CRF treated with fractional ablative CO2 laser and vascular laser. Patients were a median age of 57 years old, and the amount of time between the initiation of radiotherapy and laser treatment ranged between 3 months and 40 years. The satisfactory response was achieved in all cases. LIMITATIONS: Lack of standardized laser protocol, small sample size, lack of a control group, different anatomical locations CONCLUSION: Fractional ablative and vascular laser therapy may serve as an additional treatment for CRF, leading to functional improvements.

publication date

  • November 9, 2022

Research

keywords

  • Laser Therapy
  • Lasers, Gas

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC10099494

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85141568049

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/lsm.23617

PubMed ID

  • 36349748

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 55

issue

  • 1