Use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in management of radiation cystitis

Abstract

Radiation induced tissue injury is a result of progressive endarteritis which leads to hypovascular, hypocellular and hypoxic tissues. This damage begins as soon as patient is exposed to radiation beam. Most patients experience some acute side effects and it is rare and serious event when late side effects develop. Radiation cystitis is a late complication of radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies like prostate and cervix. Although 85% of the cases resolve with conservative management, the remainder become refractory and progress to involve a more extensive area of bony and soft tissue. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used to treat various forms of chronic radiation tissue injury and is a potential primary option for management of radiation cystitis by enhancing healing in such cases by increasing vascular density and oxygen levels in irradiated tissues. We report a case of 60-year-old male with radiation cystitis who showed promising improvement and resolution of his symptoms after forty HBOT sessions.