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To compare the efficacy of intraoral (IOPBM) and extraoral photobiomodulation (EOPBM) protocols in the management of oral mucositis (OM) in pediatric patients. This is a randomized, blinded clinical trial. Ten pediatric oncology patients were included and randomized into 2 groups: the IOPBM group (n = 5) received intraoral PBM using low-level laser, and the EOPBM group (n = 5) received extraoral PBM using defocused high-power laser. PBM therapy was administered to all patients, with a mean follow-up period of 8.8 days. Patients were evaluated daily, and OM was classified according to the World Health Organization and National Cancer Institute (NCI) scales. Additionally, oral pain, functional scores (chewing, dysphagia, fluid intake, and dysgeusia), and comfort with the procedure were assessed. Eight boys and 2 girls were included, with an average age of 8.4 years. Diagnoses included 50% acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 30% lymphomas, and 20% osteosarcoma. OM was classified by World Health Organization as grade 0 (10%), 1 (30%), 2 (50%), and 3 (10%). No patient experienced grade 4 OM. The mean duration of grade 2 OM was 2.2 days, and grade 3 was 1 day. No differences were observed between groups regarding OM grades, duration of OM, functional score, and comfort. Pain scores were similar between groups on days 3, 10, and 14. On Day 7, EOPBM exhibited a pain score of 2.2, which was higher than IOPBM (P =.018). EOPBM could be considered as effective as IOPBM in the prevention and treatment of OM in pediatric oncology patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a primary malignant tumor that commonly affects children, particularly in the head and neck region (HN). Evaluate the overall survival of pediatric patients with RMS in a reference center in southern Brazil, and to identify clinical-pathological variables and antineoplastic therapy regimens that impact patient prognosis. Patients who received diagnosis and treatment for RMS from 1990-2022 were included. The variables were compared between participants using t-test or chi-square. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional regression were performed to evaluate prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). 64 patients were included, 60.9% of the sample were male. The HN region was the most affected location. Embryonal RMS was the most prevalent histological subtype. Independent prognostic risk factors that significantly influence overall survival (OS) are age ≥10 years, intermediate classification risk, tumor relapse, whereas performing surgery was a protective factor. For disease-free survival (DFS), age group ≥10 years and high-risk group patients have a higher chance of tumor relapse. The histological subtype did not prove to be an independent risk factor for patient survival. Age and risk classification had a significant impact on OS and DFS as prognostic factors for RMS patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]