title: 660 AsGaAl laser to alleviate pain caused by cryosurgical treatment of oral leukoplakia: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ability of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to alleviate pain caused by the cryosurgical treatment of oral leukoplakia (OL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with OL were submitted to cryosurgical treatment (Non-LLLT group) and eight were submitted to cryosurgical treatment associated with LLLT (LLLT group). Laser irradiation of patients within the LLLT group was performed using a 50 mW 660 nm continuous wave Gallium Aluminum Arsenide (GaAlAs) laser with a spot size at the tissue surface of 0.0286 cm(2) (irradiance = 1.75 W/cm(2)). Three points within an area of 1 cm(2) around the cryosurgical site were irradiated in contact mode for 28 s per point (1.4 J at 49 J/cm(2) per point). Irradiation was carried out immediately following cryosurgical treatment and at 48 and 72 h post-cryosurgical treatment. A numerical rating scale was used to assess the pain. The relationship between the treated groups and pain was assessed using the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treated OL sites appeared to be clinically normal and with no evidence of recurrence during the average 9-month follow-up period. It could be observed that the LLLT group reported less pain than did the non-LLLT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LLLT is an important strategy used to reduce post-surgical pain caused by cryosurgical treatment of OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte, Brazil .
authors.forename: Adriana Spinola
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Maria Cássia Ferreira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Aguiar
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora Vieira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.forename: Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.forename: Tarcília Aparecida
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ricardo Alves
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mesquita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000601:surgery*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*