Evaluation of the effect of low level laser on prevention of chemotherapy-induced mucositis

Acta Med Iran. 2013 Apr 6;51(3):157-62.

Abstract

Radiotherapy in the head and neck region and chemotherapy might give rise to oral mucositis which is a severe and painful inflammation. There is no known definite cure for mucositis. A number of studies have attempted to evaluate the effect of low-power laser on radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of low-power laser on the prevention of mucositis, xerostomia and pain as a result of chemotherapy. The subjects in this double-blind randomized controlled study were 24 adult patients who underwent chemotherapy during 2009-2010. The results showed that low-power laser was able to decrease the effect of chemotherapy on oral mucositis, xerostomia and pain in a variety of malignancies (P<0.05). It can be concluded that low-power laser might decrease the intensity of mucositis.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Low-Level Light Therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / chemically induced
  • Pain / prevention & control*
  • Stomatitis / chemically induced*
  • Stomatitis / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Xerostomia / chemically induced
  • Xerostomia / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult