What Researchers Did
Researchers at Royal Adelaide Hospital described their experience treating 201 patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck using radiation therapy in hyperbaric oxygen between 1964 and 1980.
What They Found
The overall 5-year determinate survival was 35% for hypopharynx tumors, and for supraglottic carcinoma, it was 87.5% for Stage I/II, 55% for Stage III, and 27.1% for Stage IV, which were perceptibly better than a contemporary air-treated series. However, results for oropharynx and mobile tongue tumors were similar to those achieved in air.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This historical study provides insights into early applications of hyperbaric oxygen with radiation for head and neck cancers, though current treatment approaches have advanced considerably. Canadian patients today receive care based on modern, randomized controlled trials and updated clinical guidelines.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation was the lack of a randomly controlled comparison group for patients treated in air.