Abstract:
Radiation therapy may damage healthy tissues adjacent to tumor. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is useful in treating soft tissue and osteoradionecrosis. In addition, HBO has been recommended to treat radiation-induced myelitis. We used radiation to induce a predictable myelitis in the spinal cords of rats who were randomized into treatment (HBO) and control groups 8 wk after irradiation. Serial neurologic examination showed no benefit or harm as a result of HBO. This small pilot study did not demonstrate any clinically significant benefit of HBO for radiation myelitis in rats.
Poulton, Witcofski, , , , , , , (1985). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation myelitis. Undersea biomedical research, 1985 Dec;12(4):453-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4082347