ORAL MUCOSITIS IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH METHOTREXATE SUBMITTED TO PROPHYLACTIC PHOTOBIOMODULATION IN AN ONCOLOGY SERVICE

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the incidence of oral mucositis (OM) in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), undergoing prophylactic photobiomodulation in the oral cavity in a pediatric oncology service. Study Design A cross-sectional study was performed with 14 patients who underwent 52 chemotherapy sessions in total. Photobiomodulation and clinical examination of the oral cavity were performed daily from the first day of chemotherapy until hospital discharge. When present, OM was classified according to the National Cancer Institute table. Results During hospitalizations for MTX, OM was present in 23% of cases, with Grade 1 responsible for 10% and Grade 2 for 13%. By contrast, OM after hospital discharge, was present in 11% of the cases, appearing only in Grade 2. Among the other signs and symptoms found were odynophagia, dysphagia, and pseudomembranous candidiasis. The average dose of MTX performed during hospitalization was 18,750mg. Each patient performed an average of 3 photobiomodulation sessions per hospitalization. The median time to develop mucositis after hospital discharge was 3 days. Conclusion Prophylactic photobiomodulation was associated with a low incidence of OM and no cases of severe OM in patients undergoing high-dose MTX. To evaluate the incidence of oral mucositis (OM) in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), undergoing prophylactic photobiomodulation in the oral cavity in a pediatric oncology service. A cross-sectional study was performed with 14 patients who underwent 52 chemotherapy sessions in total. Photobiomodulation and clinical examination of the oral cavity were performed daily from the first day of chemotherapy until hospital discharge. When present, OM was classified according to the National Cancer Institute table. During hospitalizations for MTX, OM was present in 23% of cases, with Grade 1 responsible for 10% and Grade 2 for 13%. By contrast, OM after hospital discharge, was present in 11% of the cases, appearing only in Grade 2. Among the other signs and symptoms found were odynophagia, dysphagia, and pseudomembranous candidiasis. The average dose of MTX performed during hospitalization was 18,750mg. Each patient performed an average of 3 photobiomodulation sessions per hospitalization. The median time to develop mucositis after hospital discharge was 3 days. Prophylactic photobiomodulation was associated with a low incidence of OM and no cases of severe OM in patients undergoing high-dose MTX.