Variação de energia de fotobiomodulação para controle da mucosite oral induzida por radioterapia

Abstract

Introduction: Oral mucositis (MO) is a frequent and serious adverse effect of therapy for head and neck cancer. MO lesions causes pain, affect quality of life, requires supportive care, leads to discontinuation of treatment compromising its effectiveness. Photobiomodulation with the low-power laser is known to be effective against MO, but the diversity of protocols and the possibility of stimulating residual tumor cells are still obstacles to its more widespread use. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare two doses of energy of laser application to the oral mucosa of patients undergoing radiotherapy against head and neck cancer, seeking differences in the effectiveness of MO control and to evaluate the rate of tumor recurrence. Patients and methods: A prospective double- blind study was conducted with fifty-eight patients submitted to radiotherapy were randomly assigned to two groups, distinguished by the energy of laser application, namely 0.25J and 1.0J. The groups were compared according to the frequency, severity or duration of MO, as well as the frequency of tumor recurrences. Results: MO was significantly less frequent in patients receiving 1.0J of energy, but the groups did not differ in relation to the severity or duration of OM. The frequency of tumor recurrence also did not vary significantly between groups. Conclusion: Photobiomodulation with a higher energy dose (1.0J versus 0.25J) is associated with radiation therapy-induced MO, and does not significantly increase the risk of neoplastic recurrence.