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Evaluation of low-level laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced mucositis: A double-blind randomized study in head and neck cancer patients

2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 47; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.08.021

1879-0593

PAULO ANDRÉ GONÇALVES DE CARVALHO, Graziella Chagas Jaguar, Antônio Cássio Assis Pellizzon, José Divaldo Prado, Rodrigo Nascimento Lopes, Fábio Abreu Alves,

Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the effect of the low-level laser in the prevention and treatment of mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. A total of 70 patients with malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity or oropharynx were evaluated. The patients were randomized into two low-level laser therapy groups: Group 1 (660nm/15mW/3.8J/cm(2)/spot size 4mm(2)) or Group 2 (660nm/5mW/1.3J/cm(2)/spot size 4mm(2)) starting on the first day of radiotherapy. Oral mucositis was assessed daily and weekly using the NCI and WHO scales. Oral pain was scored daily with a visual analogue scale before laser application. The patients in Group 1 had a mean time of 13.5days (range 6-26days) to present mucositis grade II, while the patients in Group 2 had a mean time of 9.8days (range 4-14days) (both WHO and NCI p=0.005). In addition, Group 2 also presented a higher mucositis grade than Group 1 with significant differences found in weeks 2 (p=0.019), 3 (p=0.005) and 4 (p=0.003) for WHO scale and weeks 2 (p=0.009) and 4 (p=0.013) for NCI scale. The patients in Group 1 reported lower pain levels (p=0.004). Low-level laser therapy during radiotherapy was found to be effective in controlling the intensity of mucositis and pain.