PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS AND ORAL CANCER - AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Objective To summarize the effects and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Study Design An overview was conducted, based on the PRISMA 2020 statement. Electronic searches with no publication date restrictions were made in five databases. Results Twenty-eight studies were included. Of them, 22 articles investigated only OPMDs - with oral lichen planus (OLP) and actinic cheilitis being the most frequent. Three articles focused on OSCC, while the other three covered OPMDs and OSCC. Methodologies used in the studies were heterogeneous. In this sense, 14 different types of photosensitizers were described. Moreover, PDT parameters showed that laser wavelength, power density, and irradiation duration was 320-670 nm, 10-12000 mW/cm2, and 0.5-150 minutes, respectively. Concerning lesion response, 85.9% OSCC presented complete response, while 14.1% showed no resolution. Regarding OPMDs, erythroplakia/leukoerythroplakia showed the best response. Noentheless, OLP showed partial or no response in almost 75% of the cases. Conclusion PDT depends on lesion types and parameters. The disparities in the results could be attributed to the different methodologies. Although evidence demonstrated in the present overview suggested that PDT shows effective responses in OPMDs and OSCC, these findings need to be interpreted carefully. To summarize the effects and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). An overview was conducted, based on the PRISMA 2020 statement. Electronic searches with no publication date restrictions were made in five databases. Twenty-eight studies were included. Of them, 22 articles investigated only OPMDs - with oral lichen planus (OLP) and actinic cheilitis being the most frequent. Three articles focused on OSCC, while the other three covered OPMDs and OSCC. Methodologies used in the studies were heterogeneous. In this sense, 14 different types of photosensitizers were described. Moreover, PDT parameters showed that laser wavelength, power density, and irradiation duration was 320-670 nm, 10-12000 mW/cm2, and 0.5-150 minutes, respectively. Concerning lesion response, 85.9% OSCC presented complete response, while 14.1% showed no resolution. Regarding OPMDs, erythroplakia/leukoerythroplakia showed the best response. Noentheless, OLP showed partial or no response in almost 75% of the cases. PDT depends on lesion types and parameters. The disparities in the results could be attributed to the different methodologies. Although evidence demonstrated in the present overview suggested that PDT shows effective responses in OPMDs and OSCC, these findings need to be interpreted carefully.