What Researchers Did
Researchers measured tumour oxygen levels in seven head and neck cancer patients before, during, and after hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) to assess changes.
What They Found
Before HBO, the median tumour pO2 was 8.6 ± 5.4 mm Hg (Eppendorf) and 17.3 ± 25.5 mm Hg (Licox probe). During HBO, the pO2 significantly increased to 550 ± 333 mm Hg, demonstrating a substantial improvement in oxygenation.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygenation can significantly increase oxygen levels in head and neck tumours. For Canadian patients, this could potentially enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy by making tumours less hypoxic and more responsive to treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Germany.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is the very small sample size of only seven patients, which limits the generalizability of the findings.