Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences - Department of Laser Applications in Oral Surgery, Dentistry

Oral mucositis (OM) remains one of the most devastating frequent complications experienced by oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. OM results in ulceration and severe pain experienced by the patients. The current study included 40 patients who were receiving chemotherapy in the medical oncology department of the Egyptian National cancer institute (NCI). They were randomly assigned into two groups by computer blocked randomization. One group received the standard conventional oral care while the other received additional adjunctive laser therapy. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of adjunctive laser therapy in the management of severe chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis; as compared to standard oral theapy. Patients in the study group were treated using a GaAlAs diode laser with 808 nm wavelength and a potency of 150 mW. The energy released was adapted according to the severity of the OM grade; WHO grade 3 received 10 Joule/cm² while WHO grade 4 received 16 Joule/cm². Results were recorded every 48 hours for a period of 1 week, preoperative and immediately postoperative to the application of both conventional therapy and adjunctive LLLT. Subjective pain was monitored using visual analogue scale (VAS), while the OM grade was assessed with the world health organization (WHO) classification. All the received data were tabulated and sent for statistical analysis; the results were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Comparing both groups in different sessions showed that the laser group had statistically significant improvement in the pain levels (VAS) and recorded lower WHO grades relative to the control group

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