Background: Laser test spots are commonly suggested for the assessment of clinical response and adverse effects, but use by laser operators is not well described.
Objective: To describe the use of laser test spots in the existing published literature regarding methodology (location, treatment parameters) and objective (clinical efficacy, safety, other).
Materials and methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
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