Benefit of extraoral photobiomodulation in oral mucositis

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Created On: 06/11/2026

Oral mucositis (OM) is a treatment-related adverse effect that can adversely impact the quality of life of patients undergoing cancer care.

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Key take away

Extraoral photobiomodulation helps prevent and manage oral mucositis in oncology patients, alleviates pain, and offers treatment outcomes comparable to intraoral application with shorter application times.

Background

Oral mucositis (OM) is a treatment-related adverse effect that can adversely impact the quality of life of patients undergoing cancer care. Photobiomodulation (PBM), a light-based therapeutic approach, has emerged as a promising avenue for preventing and tackling this complication. Extraoral PBM offers an alternative to intraoral application, potentially simplifying treatment delivery. However, evidence regarding its potency requires evaluation. Hence, this study sought to fill this gap.

Method

This systematic literature review explored the effectiveness of extraoral PBM in preventing and treating OM in oncology patients. Researchers explored PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel database, the Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar. Search strategies incorporated terms from Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Result

Of the 1,246 studies identified, only 2 fulfilled the selection criteria, comprising a total of 115 patients. Extraoral PBM exhibited both preventive and therapeutic effects against OM and helped decrease associated pain. The intervention was also reported to be well-tolerated. Comparisons between extraoral and intraoral PBM illustrated similar outcomes, suggesting that extraoral application may offer a viable alternative to conventional intraoral delivery.

Notably, extraoral PBM needed less application time, potentially improving therapy efficiency in oncology settings. However, the evidence base was limited to two studies, highlighting the requisition for further research to establish the consistency and generalisability of these findings.

Conclusion

Extraoral PBM (low-level laser therapy) proved to be a safe, highly tolerable, and time-efficient alternative to conventional intraoral protocols, successfully preventing and treating OM while optimizing procedural workflows in oncology settings.