Background: Radiation- Induced Oral Mucositis (RIOM) is a frequent debilitating side effect in
patients with Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) received Radiotherapy (RT). Objectives: to
evaluate and compare between the efficacy of High Level LASER Therapy (HLLT) and Low
Level LASER Therapy (LLLT) in treatment of RIOM in patients with HNC. Methods: Sixty
patients of both genders with RIOM were enrolled in the study and distributed randomly into 3
groups: Study group (A): 20 patients (8 male and 12 females) were received HLLT by Gallium
Arsenide (GA-AS) laser class IV (wavelength 904 nm, average power 3.3W, frequency 1-2000
Hz and energy density 6.04 J/cm2
). Scanning mode was used extraorally all over the oral
cavity in one minute for five consecutive days, once a day for 2 weeks. Study group (B): 20
patients (6 male and 14 females) were received LLLT GA-AS laser class 3B with a small hand
held probe intraorally both in ulcerated and erythematous areas (wavelength 904 nm, average
power 70.5mW and energy density 5 J/cm2
for one minute on each point) for five consecutive
days, once a day for 2 weeks. Control group (C): 20 patients (9 males and 11 females) were
received shame LASER. All patients in the 3 groups were received routine medical care in the
form of local antifungal, analgesics and mouth wash. Outcome measures: Patients were
evaluated for OM severity according to World Health Organization (WHO) grading scale. Pain
intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Assessment of the dependent variables
was performed at two occasions; first at baseline, second after two weeks (ten LASER sessions).
Results: Within group analysis, there were statistical significant difference between pre and post
treatment at all variables in both study groups A and B in favor to group A (p |
