Patient Selection & Contraindications Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Selection & Contraindications flashcards as text
A patient is being treated for cancer with chemotherapy. Why is laser therapy contraindicated in this case?
Answer: Laser's biostimulatory effects may promote cancer cell proliferation and interfere with chemotherapy
Laser's biostimulatory cellular effects raise the concern of potentially stimulating cancer cell growth and may interfere with the mechanisms of chemotherapy drugs.
Which of the following patient histories would be LEAST likely to affect laser therapy treatment planning?
Answer: History of a healed ankle fracture from 10 years ago
A fully healed fracture from 10 years ago is not a current contraindication, unlike melanoma history, photosensitizing medications, or active autoimmune conditions.
A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) requests laser therapy. What is the appropriate action?
Answer: Exercise caution, as SLE patients often have photosensitivity that increases adverse reaction risk
SLE is commonly associated with photosensitivity, making these patients more susceptible to light-induced tissue reactions and requiring careful parameter adjustment.
Before treating a patient with an unknown suspicious skin lesion, the laser therapist should:
Answer: Refer the patient to a dermatologist before proceeding with laser treatment
Undiagnosed suspicious lesions must be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out malignancy before any laser energy is applied, as biostimulation of a cancerous lesion is contraindicated.
A patient reports taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Why is this relevant to laser treatment planning?
Answer: Fluoroquinolones are photosensitizing medications that increase adverse skin reaction risk
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin) are known photosensitizers that can increase skin sensitivity to laser light, raising the risk of burns and adverse reactions.
A patient with a history of radiation therapy to the chest area presents for muscle pain treatment in that region. What special consideration applies?
Answer: Previously irradiated tissue may have altered vascularity and sensitivity, requiring reduced parameters
Previously irradiated tissue may have compromised vascularity, fibrosis, and altered cellular response, requiring conservative laser parameters to avoid injury.
During intake, a patient mentions they recently had a tattoo placed on the treatment area. What is the clinical concern?
Answer: Tattoo pigments can absorb laser energy unpredictably, causing overheating and potential burns
Tattoo inks, especially dark pigments, can absorb laser wavelengths intensely and unpredictably, leading to localized overheating, blistering, or pigment fragmentation.