Laserterapia nos transtornos das glândulas salivares e do paladar em pacientes irradiados: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Radiotherapy is the most widely used treatment modality in patients with head and neck cancer, but adverse effects are comum in most patients. The aim in the present study was to conduct an updated review of the scientific literature to verify the impact of radiotherapy on the salivary glands and taste buds of patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer, and to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with low-power laser therapy in an attempt to reduce signs and symptoms related to changes in such structures. This was a bibliographic research with information collection in the PubMed database. Articles were selected that treated patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer who were or would have been treated with radiotherapy, published between 2000 and 2019. A great impact on the quality of life of radiotherapy patients was observed, since treatment causes damage to taste buds and salivary glands, and may be reversible or not. The degree of commitment and the time that these organs develop their basic functions were not well clarified due to the lack of standardization in the choices of the methods for research. Low intensity laser has been shown to be effective in controlling hyposalivation and dysgeusia in most studies, but more research is needed to prove its benefits, so that in the future it can be an ally in the prevention and control of consequences from radiotherapy