Abstract
Aim To characterize oral topographies affected by radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) in patients with oral cancer subjected to prophylactic photobiomodulation (PBM), aiming to improve PBM therapy protocols. Methods A retrospective clinical study of patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with prophylactic PBM therapy for OM was conducted. The topographic distribution of OM and OM-related pain scores were recorded weekly throughout OSCC treatment. Results A total of 145 patients with OSCC treated with PBM therapy for the prevention of OM were included in this study. In the last week of cancer treatment, 36 (23%) patients developed severe (grade 3 or 4) OM. In the last day of the radiotherapy (RT), the most affected site of OM was the lateral border of the tongue (64 patients (44.1%). The highest mean value of pain related to OM was 2.69 found in the end of the sixth week of treatment. Conclusions Although the lateral border of tongue, the buccal mucosa, and the lip mucosa were “topographic hotspots” for radiation-induced OM, the dorsal surface of tongue and the hard palate were also often affected by OM and should be considered relevant topographies for laser probe activation during intraoral PBM sessions in patients with advanced OSCC.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
