THE USE OF LOW POWER LASER IN THE TREATMENT OF ORAL MUCOSITIS IN HEAD AND NECK RADIOTHERAPY PATIENTS

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) consists of inflammation in the internal part of the mouth that results from some biological events that evolve from the submucosa to the epithelium. Among the main complications are ulcers, bleeding, atrophy, erythema, edema and wounds in this region. Having a multifactorial origin, in several cases, OM has an origin linked to radiotherapy treatment, mainly head and neck cancer (HNC). The methodology carried out was an integrative literature review, with a qualitative methodology, through data collection carried out by searching for scientific articles in four electronic databases - PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and BBO - between the years 2018 and 2023, using the descriptors “Low level light therapy, Oral mucositis and Radiotherapy' combined with the association “AND”. This selection was carried out by 8 researchers independently. As results, a total of 14 articles were obtained in English and Portuguese, of which 1 literature review, 3 randomized studies, 4 case reports, 1 clinical study, 1 systematic review, 1 narrative review, 1 cross-sectional study, 1 editorial and 1 retrospective study according to the eligibility criteria. Cancer is considered one of the diseases with the highest incidence in the world, including HNC. Oral complications of oncological therapy, with radiotherapy, present complications and damage to adjacent tissues, such as oral dryness, dysphagia and changes in taste, which are associated with a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Oral mucositis is an acute side effect and one of the most common oral complications of cytotoxic cancer treatment. There are several treatments for oral mucositis described in the literature, such as the use of low-intensity laser therapy, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. and restorative. Laser therapy has been used in both the treatment and prevention of mucositis. In view of the above, the importance of the dental surgeon in the multidisciplinary team of an oncology hospital is relevant, aiming at the diagnosis, prevention, management of oral mucositis and other oral complications caused by oncological treatment, as well as training them in laser therapy.