Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Injuries

Apr. 28, 2025

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Injuries

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves delivering 100% pure oxygen at high pressure, typically between 1.5-3.0 ATA, inside a sealed hyperbaric chamber to enhance oxygen utilization and promote wound healing. During HBOT, patients either lie down or sit inside the chamber, with each treatment session generally lasting between 90 to 120 minutes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HBOT for the following conditions:

Air and gas embolism
Severe anemia when blood transfusion is contraindicated
Severe burns
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Crush injury
Decompression sickness
Gas gangrene
Sudden, complete idiopathic hearing loss
Severe cellulitis and osteomyelitis
Radiation injury
Skin grafts or flaps are at risk of tissue death
Central retinal artery occlusion
Non-healing wounds and diabetic foot ulcers

Treating Radiation Injuries with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

According to data from the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2022, with about 609,360 cancer-related deaths. This highlights a large population of patients undergoing radiation therapy, many of whom may develop radiation dermatitis as a side effect.

What Is Radiation Injury?

Radiation injury refers to biological damage to human tissues or organs caused by exposure to ionizing radiation (such as X-rays, gamma rays, or neutrons) or non-ionizing radiation (such as ultraviolet light or microwaves).

Radiation side effects are generally categorized into acute reactions and chronic complications. While acute reactions typically diminish over time, chronic complications not only persist but may progressively worsen.

Common radiation injuries include:

Skin ulcers and necrosis
Bone tissue necrosis (e.g., radiation-induced osteonecrosis)
Nervous system dysfunction
Fibrosis of internal organs (e.g., radiation pneumonitis)

Radiation injuries often have an insidious onset, slow progression, complex treatment needs, and long recovery periods. Therefore, finding effective treatment strategies is crucial.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Injury

In modern medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is increasingly recognized for its exceptional healing capabilities in treating radiation injuries. Whether dealing with tissue necrosis following radiation therapy or skin and nervous system damage caused by accidental radiation exposure, HBOT has demonstrated impressive therapeutic outcomes. This article will explore the mechanisms, effectiveness, and advantages of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of radiation injuries.

In cases of chronic tissue damage caused by radiation therapy:

If the damage mainly affects bone tissue, it is clinically referred to as radiation-induced osteonecrosis.
If the damage primarily affects muscles, skin, or internal organs, it is termed radiation-induced soft tissue necrosis.

To repair such radiation injuries, HBOT utilizes the physical principle of pressurized high-concentration oxygen inhalation, significantly increasing the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the plasma. This oxygen-rich environment is targeted at damaged tissues through the circulatory system. It not only alleviates vascular endothelial cell damage and the resulting luminal narrowing but also promotes the formation of new blood vessels and inhibits fibrosis, thus improving microcirculation and enhancing tissue repair capabilities.