What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed the evidence for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in delayed radiation injuries in gynecologic malignancies and reported the incidence of such injuries at two medical centers in southeastern Wisconsin.
What They Found
Several studies support HBOT for treating radiation cystitis, proctitis, and necrosis, with level A evidence for proctitis and level B for cystitis and necrosis. The average annual incidence of radiation injury was 13.8% at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and 5.5% at Aurora St. Luke's Hospital, reaching up to 23% for cervical and vulvar cancer patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing delayed radiation injuries from gynecologic cancer treatment may find hyperbaric oxygen therapy a beneficial treatment option, especially for radiation proctitis. This therapy could help alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life following radiation exposure.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted at two medical centers in southeastern Wisconsin, USA.
Study Limitations
Limitations include the focus on incidence data from two specific US centers and the inherent variability in the quality of evidence reviewed from the literature.