title: Laser phototherapy as a treatment for radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
abstract: Oral mucositis is a harmful side effect of radiotherapy (RT) on the head and neck region. There are encouraging reports on the beneficial aspects of the use of laser light on the treatment of oral mucositis. This paper reports the efficacy of laser phototherapy (LPT) on the treatment of oral mucositis in a patient undergoing RT after surgical removal of a squamous cell carcinoma with osseous invasion of the maxilla. Palatal and commissural lesions were treated with λ660 nm, 40 mW, ∅=4 mm(2), in contact mode, 5 x 2.4 J/cm(2) per point, 14.4 J/cm(2) per session. For treating the lesion on the patient's nasal mucosa, LPT (∅=4 mm(2), λ780 nm, 70 mW, 3 x 2.1 J/cm(2) per point, 6.3 J/cm(2) per session, contact mode) was used on the external area of the nose. A single dose (2.4 J/cm(2)) with the λ660 nm laser, as described before, was applied on the entrance of each nostril. LPT was used 3 times/week during 4 weeks. Treatment results indicate that the use of LPT on oral mucositis was effective and allowed the patient to carry on the RT without interruption. However, long-term and controlled clinical trials are necessary to establish both preventive and curative protocols using LPT.
authors.affiliation: Center of Biophotonics, Dental School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maíra Dória Martinez da Costa
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lino
authors.forename: Fabíola Bastos de
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Lara Ramalho de
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Edval Barreto
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Antônio Luiz Barbosa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Luciana Maria Pedreira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ramalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects; D052016:Mucositis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*