BACKGROUND: @entity3136 is a major event increasing treatment costs of @entity213 ( @entity213 ) @entity1 treated with chemoradiation (CRT). This study was designed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to prevent @entity3136 in @entity213 @entity1 receiving CRT. METHODS: From June 2007 to December 2010, 94 @entity1 with @entity213 of nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx entered a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial. CRT consisted of conventional radiotherapy (RT: 70.2Gy, 1.8Gy/d, 5times/wk)+concurrent @entity900 (100mg/m(2)) every 3weeks. An InGaAlP (660nm-100mW-4J/cm(2)) laser diode was used for LLLT. RESULTS: From the perspective of Brazil's public health care system (SUS), total costs were higher in Placebo Group (PG) than Laser Group (LG) for opioid use (LG=US  9.08, PG=US  44.28), gastrostomy feeding (LG=US  50.50, PG=US  129.86), and hospitalization (PG=US  77.03). In LG, the cost was higher for laser therapy only (US  1880.57). The total incremental cost associated with the use of LLLT was US  1689.00 per @entity1 . The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was US  4961.37 per grade 3-4 OM case prevented compared to no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that morbidity was lower in the Laser Group and that LLLT was more cost-effective than placebo up to a threshold of at least US  5000 per @entity33 case prevented. CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION: NCT01439724.

Cost-effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in head and neck cancer XXXX receiving concurrent chemoradiation.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity3136 :: ('MESH:D013280', 'Disease') :: ['oral mucositis', 'Oral mucositis'] @entity900 :: ('MESH:D002945', 'Chemical') :: ['cisplatin'] @entity33 :: ('MESH:D052016', 'Disease') :: ['mucositis'] @entity213 :: ('MESH:C535575', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck squamous cell carcinoma', 'HNSCC']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
