Bui QC, Lieber M, Withers HR, Corson K, van Rijnsoever M, Elsaleh H, et al.
International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics. Date of publication 2004 Nov 1;volume 60(3):871-8.
1. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004 Nov 1;60(3):871-8.
The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of radiation-induced
late side effects.
Bui QC(1), Lieber M, Withers HR, Corson K, van Rijnsoever M, Elsaleh H.
Author information:
(1)Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 200
Medical Plaza B265, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6951, USA.
PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the
management of patients with radiation-induced late side effects, the majority of
whom had failed previous interventions.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of 105 eligible subjects, 30 had either died or were not
contactable, leaving 75 who qualified for inclusion in this retrospective study.
Patients answered a questionnaire documenting symptom severity before and after
treatment (using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria), duration of
improvement, relapse incidence, and HBOT-related complications.
RESULTS: The rate of participation was 60% (45/75). Improvement of principal
presenting symptoms after HBOT was noted in 75% of head-and-neck, 100% of pelvic,
and 57% of "other" subjects (median duration of response of 62, 72, and 68 weeks,
respectively). Bone and bladder symptoms were most likely to benefit from HBOT
(response rate, 81% and 83%, respectively). Fifty percent of subjects with soft
tissue necrosis/mucous membrane side effects improved with HBOT. The low response
rate of salivary (11%), neurologic (17%), laryngeal (17%), and upper
gastrointestinal symptoms (22%) indicates that these were more resistant to HBOT.
Relapse incidence was low (22%), and minor HBOT-related complications occurred in
31% of patients.
CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe and effective treatment modality
offering durable relief in the management of radiation-induced osteoradionecrosis
either alone or as an adjunctive treatment. Radiation soft tissue necrosis,
cystitis, and proctitis also seemed to benefit from HBOT, but the present study
did not have sufficient numbers to reliably predict long-term response.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2004.04.019
PMID: 15465205 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
