EVALUATION OF SALIVARY FUNCTION IN PATIENTS SUBMITTED RADIOTHERAPY FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER AND PHOTOBIOMODULATION

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> Evaluate the salivary function of patients in treatment with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer submitted to photobiomodulation. <h3>Study Design</h3> Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach carried out in the dentistry service of a reference cancer hospital in Pernambuco between February and September 2019. <h3>Results</h3> The study sample consisted of 23 patients, of both sexes, treated with radiotherapy for cancer in the head and neck region. The patients were submitted to photobiomodulation with an infrared laser, as intraoral applications to prevent mucositis and extraoral applications to stimulate salivary glands. Subjective and objective symptoms were assessed by measuring unstimulated salivary flow (USF) using the spitting technique before, during, and after radiotherapy. At the beginning of treatment, 22 patients had USF >0.2 mL/min (grade 1), at the end of which 15 patients remained unchanged and only 3 patients progressed to grade 3. Regarding subjective classification, the majority remained in grade 1 (absence of disability) throughout treatment (52%). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The use of photobiomodulation did not significantly interfere in the patients' complaint of xerostomia; however, it seems to prevent patients from reaching higher degrees of xerostomia taking into account the measured salivary levels of flow.