Light-emitting diode therapy for the management of radiodermatitis

Abstract

Background: Light-emitting diode (LED) is a process by which specific sequences of low-energy light are employed to regulate cellular activity without a thermal effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of LED light in the treatment of radiodermatitis. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study that included twenty patients with chronic or acute radiation dermatitis regardless of the grade or underlying neoplasia. All these patients received two LED sessions per week according to the following protocol: 660 + 850 nm, total fluence: 36 J/cm2, total energy: 21.6 KJ. The evolution was judged from the data of the clinical examination and photography. Results: Three patients had chronic radiodermatitis (CRD) and seventeen patients had acute radiodermatitis (ARD). The lesions appeared after ten sessions on average: a cumulative dose of 26.7 Gy. Evolution after LED treatment: For CRD, no significant improvement was noted. For ARD, regression of erythema and epidermalization of the lesions were observed after an average of six sessions (2–8 sessions). Discussion: Vitro studies have demonstrated that LED light accelerates wound healing by increasing procollagen synthesis and decreasing inflammatory mediators. In our study. we noticed an improvement in patients with ARD regardless of the site or the underlying neoplasia. However, no improvement was observed in patients with CRD. Conclusion: LED therapy may be an effective therapeutic option in the management of ARD, yet studies with a larger sample are necessary. Key words: LED Light; Photobiomodulation; Radiodermatitis; Acute Radiodermatitis; Radiotherapy