Antunes, H.S., Herchenhorn, D., Small, I.A., Araújo, C.M., Viégas, C.M.P., Cabral, E., . . . & Ferreira, C.G. (2013). Phase III trial of low-level laser therapy to prevent oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 109(2), 297–302.
To assess the efficacy of preventive low-laser therapy to reduce grade 3 and 4 oral mucositis (OM) in patients receiving chemoradiation
Both groups received cisplat 100 mg/m2 for three cycles every three weeks, radiation 70.2 Gy (1.8 Gy per day five times per week), and the same oral hygiene. The intervention group received low-level laser therapy five times per week before every fraction of radiation. The energy and energy density were the same for each patient. A dentist applied the laser tip to the mucosa of the lips, the right and left buccal mucosa, the left and right lateral tongue border, the buccal floor, and the ventral tongue. The placebo group had the laser tip touched to the same sites, but there was no laser light.
A significant decrease was seen in the rate of grades 3 and 4 OM in the treatment group. Relative risk ratio (6.4% with laser versus 40.5% control) 0.158 (CI 95%). The treatment group reported better physical, emotional, fatigue, and pain scores and had less pain, fewer problems swallowing, and less trouble with social eating.
Low-level laser light therapy is effective in reducing grades 3 and 4 OM in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck undergoing concurrent chemotherapy and radiation.
Nurses who work in facilities with access to low-level laser light therapy should advocate for the use of it for their patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. There may be a role for nurses in learning to administer low-level laser light therapy.