EVALUATION OF LOW-INTENSITY LASER IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ORAL MUCOSITIS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Objective To evaluate the use of prophylactic low-level laser therapy on oral mucositis in patients with malignant neoplasms in the head and neck region under radiotherapy treatment. Study Design Twenty-four patients who underwent radiotherapy in the head and neck region underwent laser therapy three times a week throughout the course of radiotherapy. The classification of mucositis described by the World Health Organization after all the laser sessions was used. Results Of the total patients, 79.2% remained without oral mucositis for most of the time of treatment; there were no cases of oral mucositis grade 3 and 4; and the 3-dimensional (3-D) radiotherapy technique had a lower incidence and severity of oral mucositis. Conclusions It is suggested the beneficial effect of laser therapy during radiotherapy treatment, which acts minimizing the occurrence and controlling the severity of oral mucositis.