Low-energy He/Ne laser in the prevention of radiation-induced mucositis. A multicenter phase III randomized study in patients with head and neck cancer.

Use of the low-energy helium-neon laser (LEL) appears to be a simple atraumatic technique for the prevention and treatment of mucositis of various origins. Preliminary findings, and significant results obtained for chemotherapy-induced mucositis in a previous phase III study, prompted a randomized multicenter double-blind trial to evaluate LEL in the prevention of acute radiation-induced stomatitis. Irradiation by LEL corresponds to local application of a high-photon-density monochromatic light source.

Complications of the myocutaneous platysma flap in intraoral reconstruction.

Background: Pedicled myocutaneous flaps remain important tools in head and neck reconstruction. Evaluation of their complications are necessary to judge their merits.

Methods: From 1985 to 1995, 44 patients underwent a myocutaneous platysma flap reconstruction of the oral cavity or oropharynx.