Evaluation of low-level laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced mucositis: A double-blind randomized study in head and neck cancer patients

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the effect of the low-level laser in the prevention and treatment of mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. A total of 70 patients with malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity or oropharynx were evaluated. The patients were randomized into two low-level laser therapy groups: Group 1 (660 nm/15 mW/3.8 J/cm(2)/spot size 4 mm(2)) or Group 2 (660 nm/5 mW/1.3 J/cm2/spot size 4 mm(2)) starting on the first day of radiotherapy. Oral mucositis was assessed daily and weekly using the NCI and WHO scales. Oral pain was scored daily with a visual analogue scale before laser application. The patients in Group 1 had a mean time of 13.5 days (range 6-26 days) to present mucositis grade II, while the patients in Group 2 had a mean time of 9.8 days (range 4-14 days) (both WHO and NCI p = 0.005). In addition, Group 2 also presented a higher mucositis grade than Group 1 with significant differences found in weeks 2 (p = 0.019), 3 (p = 0.005) and 4 (p = 0.003) for WHO scale and weeks 2 (p = 0.009) and 4 (p = 0.013) for NCI scale. The patients in Group 1 reported lower pain levels (p = 0.004). Low-level laser therapy during radiotherapy was found to be effective in controlling the intensity of mucositis and pain. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.