The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of radiation-induced late side effects.

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.