Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) on radiation-induced late sequelae

The objective of our study was to determine the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in the treatment of the late sequelae of radiotherapy. We excluded any case in which sequelae were detected and first treated less than three months after the final irradiation. Our study group consisted of 29 patients with the following sub-groups: 8 with osteonecrosis of the mandible & maxilla, 7 with proctocolitis, 7 with hemorrhagic cystitis, 3 with esophageal ulcer, 2 with necrosis of the larynx, 1 with skin ulcer and 1 with radiation medullopathy. We evaluated toxicity grades according to RTOG/EORTC late radiation morbidity scoring scheme before and after HBO in each case, and assessed the effects by comparing these grades. Our findings were showed 5 (17%) of the group had a very good outcome, with reduction of more than two grades, 18 (62%) had a moderate outcome with one grade reduced, while 6 (21%) revealed no change in their level of symptoms. Exacerbation of symptoms was not noted in any case. Since there are few known effective treatments for late toxicity, it is our view that the usefulness of HBO therapy needs to be recognized, and that further studies such as ours should be undertaken.