To evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis on body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) of patients with head and neck cancer. MethodsPatients were divided into two distinct groups: Photobiomodulation -PBM (n = 17) and SHAM (n = 19). Participants in the PBM group received the low-power aluminum gallium arsenide (AsGaAl) laser device with maximum output power of 86.7 mW, wavelength of 660 nm (red) and laser applications at 33 different points of the oral mucosa, on alternate days. Patients in the SHAM group were found to be using the same procedure but with the device turned off. During the rst and twenty-fourth session of radiotherapy, participants from both groups underwent an intraoral examination to assess the presence or absence of mucositis and its respective degree according to WHO scale, and were assessed by measuring weight and height and for BMI calculation. ResultsAll patients presented signi cant differences on weight and BMI throughout the study. Patients in the PBM group had less weight loss (p<0.01) and reduced BMI loss (p<0.01) when compared to patients in the SHAM group. PBM did not prevent oral mucositis, however, it decreased its severity (p<0.01). ConclusionPhotobiomodulation for oral mucositis reduces weight loss and prevented the reduction of BMI in patients who underwent radiochemotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer. Although it did not avoid the appearance of oral mucositis, PBM was able to reduce its degrees, preventing the progress of this condition. Retrospectively registered: https://data.

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Introduction:The diagnosis of cancer can provoke innumerable changes in the life of cancer patients, caused by the illness and the methods of treatment. Dysgeusia is a common complication, which directly affects the nutritional status causing loss of appetite and decreased intake. Aim: The present paper presents a review of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this oral complication. Material and methods: The present literature review selected articles based on the titles that addressed dysgeusia in cancer patients, as well as the etiology, diagnosis and treatment. After previous analysis, we included 31 relevant articles on the proposed theme. Results: Dysgeusia can be a symptom or a common consequence of several causes. Radiation therapy may lead to dysgeusia, altering the structure of the pores of the palate or causing a thinning of the epithelium of the papilla. The exact mechanism of dysgeusia in cancer patients is not well elucidated. The diagnosis of dysgeusia can be obtained through objective and subjective methods. The objective methods used are chemical gustometria and electrogustometria. The subjective analysis can be performed through questionnaires where patients report if they noticed changes in taste in the foods consumed daily. Various types of treatments are being used to improve taste disorders, such as zinc supplementation, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), ginkgo biloba, pilocarpine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and acupuncture. Final considerations: The studies are still inconclusive regarding the etiology of the disease and the treatment methods that reduce the impact of dysgeusia on the life of cancer patients.

Purpose To evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis on body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) of patients with head and neck cancer. Methods Patients were divided into two distinct groups: Photobiomodulation - PBM (n = 17) and SHAM (n = 19). Participants in the PBM group received the low-power aluminum gallium arsenide (AsGaAl) laser device with maximum output power of 86.7 mW, wavelength of 660 nm (red) and laser applications at 33 different points of the oral mucosa, on alternate days. Patients in the SHAM group were found to be using the same procedure but with the device turned off. During the first and twenty-fourth session of radiotherapy, participants from both groups underwent an intraoral examination to assess the presence or absence of mucositis and its respective degree according to WHO scale, and were assessed by measuring weight and height and for BMI calculation. Results All patients presented significant differences on weight and BMI throughout the study. Patients in the PBM group had less weight loss (p<0.01) and reduced BMI loss (p<0.01) when compared to patients in the SHAM group. PBM did not prevent oral mucositis, however, it decreased its severity (p<0.01). Conclusion Photobiomodulation for oral mucositis reduces weight loss and prevented the reduction of BMI in patients who underwent radiochemotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer. Although it did not avoid the appearance of oral mucositis, PBM was able to reduce its degrees, preventing the progress of this condition. Retrospectively registered: https://data.mendeley.com//datasets/4kd7s49wk4/1