PREVENTIVE LASER PHOTOBIOMODULATION EVALUATION IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER UNDERGOING RADIOCHEMOTHERAPY

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most frequent lesions in patients undergoing cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laser photobiomodulation in the development of OM in patients with head and neck cancer. This randomized clinical study divided patients into two groups: the laser group (LG, n = 30) and the control group (CG, n = 24). The LG (InGaALP, 660 nm, 86.7 mW, 2 J/cm2) participated in the preventive protocol, while the CG underwent a simulated procedure without light emission. The degrees of OM, salivary flow, and referred pain were evaluated at five different periods of radiotherapy. Both groups showed a significant increase in the degree of OM (p < 0.01). Regarding OM, salivary flow, and oral pain, there was no significant difference between the groups. The laser photobiomodulation protocol used in this study was not effective in preventing radiochemotherapy-induced OM.