Avaliação da fotobiomodulação no controle da disgeusia em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos à radioterapia: estudo clínico randomizado

Abstract

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer potentially leads to gustatory dysfunction. Dysgeusia is a distortion in taste perception that may result in nutritional deficiencies and reduced quality of life. Photobiomodulation therapy has been used as a supportive measure in cancer treatment, including for the management of taste disorders.This randomized study aimed to evaluate the influence of photobiomodulation therapy on the prevention of dysgeusia in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, compared with the use of zinc sulfate. The sample included 16 patients, divided into a Test Group (photobiomodulation therapy) and a Control Group (zinc sulfate use). Objective taste testing was performed in both groups at three time points: before radiotherapy (T0), at the 15th radiotherapy session (T1), and at the 30th radiotherapy session (T2). The sample consisted predominantly of male patients (68.8%), with a mean age of 65.63 years. Fisher’s exact test was used for statistical analysis to compare the Test and Control groups at T0, T1, and T2. Salty taste perception was the most affected in both groups. Sweet taste perception showed greater improvement in the zinc group at T2. Sour, bitter, and salty taste perceptions showed greater improvement in the laser group at T2. Statistically, no comparison between groups at T0, T1, or T2 was significant (p > 0.05). Despite the absence of statistically significant differences between groups, laser therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness in reducing the severity of taste disorders related to sour, bitter, and salty tastes throughout radiotherapy, particularly at the most critical time points (T1,T2). The association of both treatments may be beneficial for the treatment and prevention of dysgeusia in patients irradiated for head and neck cancer.