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Maiya, G., Sagar, M., & Fernandes, D. (2006). Effect of low level helium-neon (He-Ne) laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of radiation induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 124(4), 399–402.
Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process
He-Ne wavelength 632.8 nm and output of 10 mW was administered for three minutes five days a week until completion of radiation.
Control group received oral analgesics, anesthetics, 0.9% saline, and ovidine wash.
Physician was blinded to the type of treatment.
Sample Characteristics
Patients with cancer of the oral cavity stages 2–4 receiving radiation 66 Gy in 33 fractions over six weeks
Computer randomization; 25 patients receiving laser treatment, 25 patients in the control group
Mean age of study group was 54 years (+/– 1 year); mean age of the control group was 53 years (+/–1 year).
Ratio of men to women was 2:1.
Measurement Instruments/Methods
WHO mucosiis
VAS for pain
Recorded weekly
Results
At the end of week 6 of RT, pain rank in the study group significantly decreased (p < 0.001) as compared to the control group (13 versus 38).
Mean pain score in the study group was 2.6 (+/– 0.64); the control group score was 6.68 (+/– 1.44) (p < 0.001).
At the end of radiation, mucositis grade in the study group was 1.72 (+/– 0.67); the grade was 3.32 (+/–0.09) in the control group (p < 0.001).
18 patients in the study group had grade 1, and 7 had grade 2 mucositis;
14 patients in the control group had grade 3, and 11 had grade 4.
Limitations
Small sample size, but findings were significant at the end of radiation.