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The present study aimed to assess the impact of low-level laser (LLL) on low salivary flow rate in patients undergoing radiochemotherapy (RT-CT) for head and neck cancer.LLL has shown efficiency in preventing hyposalivation in patients under different pathological conditions, including those undergoing RT-CT.During all RT-CT, 17 patients received laser therapy and 10 received clinical care only. An Indium-Gallium-Aluminum-Phosphorus diode laser was punctually used for intraoral (660 nm, 40 mW, 10 J/cm(2), illuminated area 0.04 cm(2), 10 sec) and extraoral irradiation (780 nm, 15 mW, 3.8 J/cm(2), illuminated area 0.04 cm(2), 10 sec), three times a week and on alternate days, for a total of 21 sessions. Unstimulated salivary flow rate was assessed before the first RT session (N0), at the 15th RT session (N15), at the last RT session (Nf), and at 30 (N30) and 90 days after the end of the oncologic treatment (N90).At N15, Nf, and N30, patients treated with LLL showed significantly higher averages of salivary flow rate when compared with patients receiving clinical care only.LLL seems to be an efficient tool for mitigation of salivary hypofunction in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer.

Objective: To determine whether low-level laser therapy can prevent salivary hypofunction after radiotherapy and chemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 23 head and neck cancer patients, of whom 13 received laser therapy and 10 received clinical care only. An InGaAlP laser was used intra-orally (at 660 nm and 40 mW) at a mean dose of 10.0 J/cm2 and extra-orally (at 780 nm and 15 mW) at a mean dose of 3.7 J/cm2, three times per week, on alternate days. Stimulated and unstimulated sialometry tests were performed before the first radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions (N0) and at 30 days after the end of treatment (N30). Results: At N30, the mean salivary flow rates were significantly higher among the laser therapy patients than among the patients who received clinical care only, in the stimulated and unstimulated sialometry tests (p = 0.0131 and p = 0.0143, respectively). Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy, administered concomitantly with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, appears to mitigate treatment-induced salivary hypofunction in patients with head and neck cancer. Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto do laser de baixa potência na prevenção de hipofluxo salivar em pacientes portadores de câncer de cabeça e pescoço após radioterapia e quimioterapia. Materiais e Métodos: Treze pacientes receberam laserterapia e dez receberam cuidados clínicos. Utilizou-se um InGaAlP laser diodo para aplicação intraoral (comprimento de onda de 660 nm, 40 mW de potência e dose média de 10 J/cm2) e extraoral (comprimento de onda de 780 nm, 15 mW de potência e dose média de 3,7 J/cm2), três vezes por semana, em dias alternados. Sialometrias estimulada e não estimulada foram realizadas antes da primeira sessão de radioterapia e quimioterapia (N0) e 30 dias após o final do tratamento (N30). Resultados: Em N30, os pacientes submetidos à laserterapia apresentaram médias estatisticamente maiores de fluxo salivar estimulado (p = 0,0131) e não estimulado (p = 0,0143), em comparação com os pacientes que receberam apenas cuidados clínicos. Conclusão: A laserterapia de baixa potência realizada concomitantemente a radioterapia e quimioterapia foi capaz de mitigar a hipofunção das glândulas salivares em pacientes portadores de câncer de cabeça e pescoço após o tratamento oncológico.