What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the in vivo effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on oral microcirculation in 34 head and neck cancer patients previously treated with radiotherapy.
What They Found
Six months after HBOT, patients showed a significant increase in mean buccal vessel density (from 22 ± 11 to 25 ± 7 cpll/mm) and a decrease in buccal vessel diameter compared to baseline. These changes suggest that HBOT can help redirect oral microcirculation parameters in irradiated tissue towards healthier values.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with head and neck cancer experiencing late side effects from radiotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may offer a way to improve compromised oral tissue vascularity. This could lead to better tissue healing and reduced risk of spontaneous tissue breakdown, potentially improving their quality of life.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its relatively small sample size of 34 patients and the absence of a control group.