Radiation Injuries

Radiation is a highly effective technology used to diagnose and treat serious conditions throughout the entire body. Radiation uses electromagnetic waves to capture images of the inner structures of a targeted area, and can also be used to treat cancer by destroying solid tumors.

When patients undergo procedures such as an X-ray, CT scan or radiation therapy, they are exposed to ionizing radiation, the high energy electromagnetic waves and particles that are capable of ionizing atoms. This ionization process also causes the damage of certain cells, which can lead to illness and an increased risk of cancer. This damage may be successful in destroying cancerous cells, but is often not restricted to just the targeted area.

What are radiation-related injuries?

Despite its many advantages, radiation therapy does carry certain risks for patients who choose to undergo it. In addition to destroying the dangerous cells of the tumor, radiation therapy also harms the healthy cells that surround the tumor. These cells either die immediately or are so severely damaged that will eventually die later on. Complications from this damage can develop months or even years after treatment, and may cause pain, hemorrhaging and other symptoms, depending on the location of the damage.

After the radiation therapy, damage will continue to progress and eventually lead to a loss of collagen, increase in fibrotic tissue and poor circulation. The blood vessels walls may thicken and swell, while the muscular elements of the wall slowly deteriorate.

What are the different types of radiation injuries?

Radiation injuries can affect either the soft tissues in the body, such as the muscles, nerves, endothelium and fibroblast, or can affect the bones, a condition known as radiation osteonecrosis.

Depending on where the radiation exposure occurred, certain symptoms may arise as a result of the damage. Radiation damage in the brain, which is one of the most serious kinds of radiation injury, can cause impairment of mental functioning, including personality changes, memory deficiency, confusion and dementia. Radiation damage in the bowels may lead to bleeding, pain, diarrhea and a fistula.

How can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help radiation injuries?

HBOT is one of the only treatments available to reverse the damaging effects of radiation on the bone and soft tissue. This treatment delivers oxygen to the treated area and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, as well as fibroblastic proliferation and collagen synthesis. With an increased blood and oxygen supply, symptoms can be relieved and the damaged tissue can be healed. Most radiation patients can undergo HBOT with no major side effects.

Before HBOT, radiation damage was treated with soft tissue grafts with their own blood supply that were inserted surgically into the affected area. These grafts were often unsuccessful and the damaged tissue would not heal because of ischemia. Now, these injuries can first be treated through HBOT to stimulate the healing process before additional treatment is performed.

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