title: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation myelitis.
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.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D009187:Myelitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000528:radiation effects*