Review of oral mucositis treatment guidelines with an emphasis on laser therapy

Healthcare professionals require effective treatment options for managing the complications that may arise during cancer treatment. The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) work together to reduce oral complications secondary to cancer, including difficulties associated with oral mucositis (OM). The present article is intended to summarize the MASCC/ISOO guidelines, which are updated periodically based on the most recent evidence supporting the multiple treatment options for OM caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy used to treat head and neck tumors. The Mucositis Study Group (MSG) of MASCC/ ISOO conducted systematic reviews of the current literature pertaining to several interventions, including anti-inflammatory agents; basic oral care; vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements; and photobiomodulation. The MSG then categorized the effectiveness of each treatment for preventing OM or reducing the severity, duration, and reported pain of patients with OM based on the type of cancer being treated, the cancer treatment modality (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combination therapy), and the goals of the OM treatment (preventive or therapeutic). The present article also describes a case demonstrating the positive effects of using various laser devices to heal the symptoms of OM in a patient undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy for a squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue.