Low-Level Laser Therapy and Laser Debridement for Management of Oral Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy and Radiation

Oral mucositis (OM) is a very common side effect of head and neck radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent chemotherapy and radiation (CRT) leading to severe pain, infection, weight loss, higher rates of hospitalization, higher financial cost of treatment, and breaks in therapy resulting in increased morbidity and reduced treatment efficacy. The 2014 guidelines from The Mucositis Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer included a suggestion that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was useful for the prevention of high-grade OM in patients receiving head and neck RT alone, but no comment could be made regarding its efficacy in the therapeutic setting for severe OM during RT or CRT.

Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - February 24, 2016 Category: Radiology Authors: E. Allan, C. Barney, S. Baum, T. Kessling, V.M. Diavolitsis, D. Blakaj, J.C. Grecula, J.W. Rocco, M. Van Putten, A.D. Bhatt Tags: Posters Source Type: research