LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY APPLICATION FOR ANALGESIA OF ODYNOPHAGIA CAUSED BY HEAD AND NECK RADIOTHERAPY

Head and neck radiotherapy causes many side effects, including hypopharyngeal mucositis (HPM), which makes feeding and swallowing difficult. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat oral mucositis is already consolidated in the literature. However, there are no reports of laser application in hypopharyngeal region. This study aimed to identify the best anatomic area of cervical region of corpses to propose an extraoral LLLT protocol for treating HPM, as well as to evaluate odynophagia in patients treated at a universitary hospital in southern Brazil. An anatomic study in corpses was performed selecting the best extraoral site to apply LLLT for treating HPM. Furthermore, statements about extraoral LLLT were reported by patients complaining of odynophagia. The carotid trigone showed to be the best site to perform LLLT. Laser protocol to treat HPM consisted in: infrared, 4 J, 100 mW, and 4 points along the anterior margin of sternocleidomastoid muscle. All patients related comfort and odynophagia relief after LLLT. This proposed extraoral LLLT protocol presented promising results.