%0 Journal Article %J Int J Paediatr Dent %D 2014 %T Class IV laser therapy as treatment for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in onco-haematological paediatric patients: a prospective study. %A Chermetz, Maddalena %A Gobbo, Margherita %A Ronfani, Luca %A Ottaviani, Giulia %A Zanazzo, Giulio A %A Verzegnassi, Federico %A Treister, Nathaniel S %A Di Lenarda, Roberto %A Biasotto, Matteo %A Zacchigna, Serena %X

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a debilitating side effect of chemotherapy. Laser therapy has recently demonstrated efficacy in the management of oral mucositis (OM).

AIM: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of class IV laser therapy in patients affected by OM.

DESIGN: Eighteen onco-haematological paediatric patients receiving chemotherapy and/or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, prior to total body irradiation, affected by OM, were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with class IV laser therapy for four consecutive days; the assessment of OM was performed through WHO Oral Mucositis Grading Objective Scale, and pain was evaluated through visual analogue scale. Patients completed a validated questionnaire, and photographs of lesions were taken during each session. Patients were re-evaluated 11 days after the first day of laser therapy.

RESULTS: All patients demonstrated improvement in pain sensation, and all mucositis was fully resolved at the 11-day follow-up visit, with no apparent side effects. Laser therapy was well tolerated with remarkable reduction in pain associated with oral mucositis after 1-2 days of laser therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Given class IV laser therapy appears to be safe, non-invasive, and potentially effective, prospective, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to further assess efficacy and to determine optimal treatment parameters.

%B Int J Paediatr Dent %V 24 %P 441-9 %8 2014 Nov %G eng %N 6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24372909?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1111/ipd.12090