title: Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy for reducing radiotherapy side effects: early results of a randomized trial in oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of quality of life (QoL) and side effects in a randomized trial for early hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) after radiotherapy (RT).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2006, 19 patients with tumor originating from the tonsillar fossa and/or soft palate (15), base of tongue (1), and nasopharynx (3) were randomized to receive HBOT or not. HBOT consisted of 30 sessions at 2.5 ATA (15 msw) with oxygen breathing for 90 min daily, 5 days per week, applied shortly after the RT treatment was completed. As of 2005, all patients received validated questionnaires (i.e., the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ Head and Neck Cancer Module (H&N35), Performance Status Scale): before treatment; at the start of RT treatment; after 46 Gy; at the end of RT treatment; and 2, 4, and 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On all QoL items, better scores were obtained in patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen. The difference between HBOT vs. non-HBOT was significant for all parameters: EORTC H&N35 Swallowing (p = 0.011), EORTC H&N35 Dry Mouth (p = 0.009), EORTC H&N35, Sticky Saliva (p = 0.01), PSS Eating in Public (p = 0.027), and Pain in Mouth (visual analogue scale; p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients randomized for receiving hyperbaric oxygen after the RT had better QoL scores for swallowing, sticky saliva, xerostomia, and pain in mouth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center-Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Teguh
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Levendag
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noever
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voet
authors.forename: Henrie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Est
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.forename: Antoine G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dumans
authors.forename: Maarten F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Michiel P C
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van der Huls
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterk
authors.forename: Paul I M
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014313:Trismus / Q000517:prevention & control; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000517:prevention & control