Low-Level Laser for Mitigation of Low Salivary Flow Rate in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiochemotherapy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Objective: 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. Background data: LLL has shown efficiency in preventing hyposalivation in patients under different pathological conditions, including those undergoing RT-CT. Methods: 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). Results: 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. Conclusions: LLL seems to be an efficient tool for mitigation of salivary hypofunction in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer.