title: Effect of low level laser therapy in the reduction of oral complications in patients with cancer of the head and neck submitted to radiotherapy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low level laser therapy on reducing the occurrence and severity of oral complications in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Sixty head and neck cancer outpatients from a cancer hospital receiving radiotherapy were selected and randomly assigned into two groups. The laser group was irradiated with an InGaAlP laser and the control received sham laser. The assessment of complications (oral mucositis, pain) was carried out one week after starting radiotherapy, and at the fifteenth and thirtieth sessions of radiotherapy. All patients from both groups showed some degree of oral mucositis. Better outcomes were observed in the laser group when compared with the control in the follow-up sessions, indicating lower degrees of oral mucositis, pain and higher salivary flow (p < .05). These findings support the use of laser therapy as an adjuvant treatment for the control of oral complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Angélica Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Oton-Leite
authors.forename: Larissa Santana Arantes
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Marília Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Juliana Castro Dourado
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pinezi
authors.forename: Claudio Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.forename: Maria Alves Garcia Santos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Elismauro Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: head and neck cancer; laser therapy; oral mucositis; oral pain; xerostomia