127 Background: A side effect of radiation therapy to treat genitourinary cancers is radiation-induced cystitis, which in its most severe form can be hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). Some studies have found the incidence of HC in radiation patients to range from 3% to 6.5% after radiation therapy and can develop anywhere from 6 months after radiation therapy to 10 years or more after the last treatment. The severity of symptoms, which includes hematuria, may drastically reduce quality of life. Recent studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has improved symptoms of radiation cystitis in around 80% of patients. Methods: Sixty patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for radiation-induced cystitis since 2010 at Winthrop University Hospital were identified. IRB approval was obtained for contacting these patients to gather outcome data. Patient reported outcomes were evaluated using a questionnaire that assessed the type and duration of radiation treatment, treatment other than HBOT for HC symptoms, surgical intervention, and patient perceived outcomes of HBOT. Results: 36 patients were consented. The average age of the patient was 71 with a range from 29-91. The majority of the patients 78% had prostate cancer with the Colon, Uterinem, Bladder and Testicular cancer also included The average time from completion of radiation to onset of symptoms was 3 years. The mean number of treatments was 35 with a range of 18-120 treatments. All treatments were for 90 minutes at 2.4 ATA. The majority of the patients (24) had external beam radiaiation and 12 patients had a urological procedure after completion of their therapy. 78 % of the patients reports either moderate improvement or complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions: This case series seems to demonstrate that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy appears to be an effective treatment for radiation cystitis, however additional studies are necessary.
Phase III study of interstitial thermoradiotherapy compared with interstitial radiotherapy alone in the treatment of recurrent or persistent human tumors: A prospectively controlled randomized study by the radiation therapy oncology group
