Does hyperbaric oxygen treatment have the potential to increase salivary flow rate and reduce xerostomia in previously irradiated head and neck cancer patients? A pilot study

• Published in: Oral oncology 2011-06, Vol.47 (6), p.546-551
• Main Authors: Forner, Lone, Hyldegaard, Ole, von Brockdorff, Annet Schack, Specht, Lena, Andersen, Elo, Jansen, Erik C, Hillerup, Søren, Nauntofte, Birgitte, Jensen, Siri Beier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Hyperbaric oxygen; Hyperbaric Oxygenation - methods; Hyposalivation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pilot Projects; Radiation therapy; Salivary Glands - radiation effects; Salivation - radiation effects; Secretory Rate - radiation effects; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Xerostomia; Xerostomia - etiology; Xerostomia - therapy
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.03.021

Summary Irradiated head and neck cancer survivors treated in the Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, spontaneously reported improvement of radiation-induced dry mouth feeling. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate salivary flow rate and xerostomia before and after HBO in irradiated head and neck cancer patients. Eighty patients eligible for HBO treatment on the indication of prevention/treatment of osteoradionecrosis or soft tissue radiation injury were consecutively sampled, of whom 45 had hyposalivation (i.e. unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rate