Article
Effect of low level laser therapy in the reduction of oral complications in patients with cancer of the head and neck submitted to radiotherapy
Angélica Ferreira Oton-Leite DDS, MS,
Larissa Santana Arantes Elias DDS, MS,
Marília Oliveira Morais DDS,
Juliana Castro Dourado Pinezi MD, MS,
Claudio Rodrigues Leles DDS, MS, PhD,
Maria Alves Garcia Santos Silva DDS, MS; PhD,
Elismauro Francisco Mendonça DDS, MS, PhD,
Angélica Ferreira Oton-Leite DDS, MS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorLarissa Santana Arantes Elias DDS, MS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorMarília Oliveira Morais DDS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorJuliana Castro Dourado Pinezi MD, MS
Radiotherapy Department of the Araújo Jorge Hospital, Association of Cancer Combat of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorClaudio Rodrigues Leles DDS, MS, PhD
Department of Prevention and Oral Rehabilitation
Search for more papers by this authorMaria Alves Garcia Santos Silva DDS, MS; PhD
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Elismauro Francisco Mendonça DDS, MS, PhD
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAngélica Ferreira Oton-Leite DDS, MS,
Larissa Santana Arantes Elias DDS, MS,
Marília Oliveira Morais DDS,
Juliana Castro Dourado Pinezi MD, MS,
Claudio Rodrigues Leles DDS, MS, PhD,
Maria Alves Garcia Santos Silva DDS, MS; PhD,
Elismauro Francisco Mendonça DDS, MS, PhD,
Angélica Ferreira Oton-Leite DDS, MS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorLarissa Santana Arantes Elias DDS, MS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorMarília Oliveira Morais DDS
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorJuliana Castro Dourado Pinezi MD, MS
Radiotherapy Department of the Araújo Jorge Hospital, Association of Cancer Combat of Goiás
Search for more papers by this authorClaudio Rodrigues Leles DDS, MS, PhD
Department of Prevention and Oral Rehabilitation
Search for more papers by this authorMaria Alves Garcia Santos Silva DDS, MS; PhD
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Elismauro Francisco Mendonça DDS, MS, PhD
Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
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.
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