title: Efficacy of low-level laser therapy and aluminum hydroxide in patients with chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and aluminum hydroxide (AH) in the prevention of oral mucositis (OM). A prospective, comparative and non-randomized study was conducted with 25 patients with head and neck cancer subjected to radiotherapy (RT) or radiochemotherapy (RCT). Twelve patients received LLLT (830 nm, 15 mW, 12 J/cm²) daily from the 1st day until the end of RT before each sessions during 5 consecutive days, and the other 13 patients received AH 310 mg/5 mL, 4 times/day, also throughout the duration of RT, including weekends. OM was measured using an oral toxicity scale (OTS) and pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). EORTC questionnaires were administered to the evaluate impact of OM on quality of life. The LLLT group showed lower mean OTS and VAS scores during the course of RT. A significant difference was observed in pain evaluation in the 13th RT session (p=0.036). In both groups, no interruption of RT was needed. The prophylactic use of both treatments proposed in this study seems to reduce the incidence of severe OM lesions. However, the LLLT was more effective in delaying the appearance of severe OM.
authors.affiliation: Clinics Hospital, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. alinegov@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Aline Gouvêa de
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Reynaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antequera
authors.forename: Maria Paula Siqueira de Melo
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.forename: Igor Moysés Longo
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Snitcosky
authors.forename: Miriam Hatsue Honda
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Rosângela Correa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide