Laser Test Spots: A Scoping Review

Laser test spots are commonly suggested for the assessment of clinical response and adverse effects, but use by laser operators is not well described.

To describe the use of laser test spots in the existing published literature regarding methodology (location, treatment parameters) and objective (clinical efficacy, safety, other).

This scoping review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines and included indexed studies performing test spots in human subjects for dermatologic conditions with clinical reassessment at a subsequent visit.

Among 5,261 identified publications, 103 studies with 959 test spots were selected for inclusion. Test spots conducted were mostly on lesional skin (89.3%) assessing both clinical response and adverse effects (76.9%). Most test spots used multiple laser parameters with a single wavelength (48.3%). Fluence was most frequently adjusted either alone (30.1%) or in combination with pulse duration or spot size. Other described test spots examined single set of laser parameters, multiple wavelengths with various parameters, or were left unspecified.

Laser test spot methodology was diverse and performed for dual objectives of efficacy and safety. The authors have compiled clinical considerations to assist laser operators in deciding whether performing a test spot may be beneficial to their patient.