Alsoghier Abdullah, Mutaieb Sara, Bukhari Areej, AlQarni Mayson, Alhazzaa Saud, Aljabab Saif, Alsuhaibani Abdullah, Faden Asmaa
Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dental University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Jan 20;40(1):25. doi: 10.1007/s10103-025-04292-3.
It is not uncommon for individuals receiving radiotherapy for head and cancers to experience dry mouth sensation (xerostomia), salivary hypofunction (hyposalivation) and taste changes. The present study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of biweekly photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in managing these radiotherapy-induced adverse effects and its impact on oral health-related quality of life. Ten patients who developed xerostomia and hyposalivation secondary to radiotherapy for head and neck cancer were included. The study assessments included clinician-based [the stimulated (SSF) and unstimulated salivary flow (USSF) and taste change questionnaire] and patient-based measures [Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-5)]. The 10 participants (males = 5, females = 5) had a mean age of 52 (± 15) years. Half were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. From visits 1 to 8, 80% showed increased USSF and/or SSF, but these were limited and not significant (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, 80% of the patients had lower xerostomia scores, 60% had less dryness frequency, and 40% showed taste improvement. Improvement in oral health-related quality of life was only observed in 30% of the participants. Strong proportional correlations were found between USSF and SSF as well as SXI and OHIP-5 at study visits 1 and 8 (p < 0.05). The findings showed the usefulness of PBMT in reducing xerostomia and taste changes and possibly increasing salivary flow over a 4-week duration. However, randomised clinical trials are needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of PBMT compared to other management options.Clinical study registration: The study was prospectively registered with the US National Library of Medicine's clinical trial registry on 13 September 2022 [ClinicalTrials.gov ref: NCT05538169].
接受头颈部癌症放射治疗的患者出现口干感（口腔干燥症）、唾液功能减退（唾液分泌减少）和味觉改变的情况并不少见。本研究旨在评估每两周一次的光生物调节疗法（PBMT）在管理这些放疗引起的不良反应方面的短期有效性及其对口腔健康相关生活质量的影响。纳入了10例因头颈部癌症放疗继发口腔干燥症和唾液分泌减少的患者。研究评估包括基于临床医生的指标[刺激唾液流量（SSF）和非刺激唾液流量（USSF）以及味觉变化问卷]和基于患者的指标[简化口腔干燥症量表（SXI）和口腔健康影响程度量表（OHIP - 5）]。10名参与者（男性 = 5名，女性 = 5名）的平均年龄为52（±15）岁。其中一半被诊断为鼻咽鳞状细胞癌。从第1次访视到第8次访视，80%的患者USSF和/或SSF有所增加，但增加幅度有限且无统计学意义（p > 0.05）。尽管如此，80%的患者口腔干燥症评分降低，60%的患者口干频率降低，40%的患者味觉有所改善。仅30%的参与者口腔健康相关生活质量得到改善。在第1次和第8次研究访视时，发现USSF与SSF以及SXI与OHIP - 5之间存在强比例相关性（p < 0.05）。研究结果表明，PBMT在为期4周的时间内有助于减轻口腔干燥症和味觉改变，并可能增加唾液流量。然而，需要进行随机临床试验来评估PBMT与其他治疗方案相比的长期有效性。临床研究注册情况：该研究于2022年9月13日在美国国立医学图书馆的临床试验注册库进行了前瞻性注册[ClinicalTrials.gov编号：NCT05538169]。
