Wilson B, Shah R, Menzer C, Aleisa A, Rossi A. Laser therapy as a treatment for chronic radiation fibrosis.
Lasers Surg Med 2023;
55:82-88. [PMID:
36349748 PMCID:
PMC10099494 DOI:
10.1002/lsm.23617]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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.
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