Urology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Delayed Radiation Injury
Patients who have received pelvic radiation for prostate, bladder, colorectal, or other cancers may develop delayed radiation tissue injury months or years after completing radiation therapy.
In urology, this commonly presents as radiation cystitis, including recurrent hematuria and chronic urinary symptoms.
Delayed radiation injury (soft tissue and bony necrosis) is a recognized indication for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS).
When to Consider an HBOT Referral
Consider a hyperbaric evaluation for patients with a history of pelvic radiation who develop:
- Radiation cystitis
- Recurrent or persistent hematuria
- Cystoscopic findings consistent with radiation injury
- Bladder mucosal friability, ulceration, or tissue injury
- Persistent dysuria, urgency, or frequency associated with radiation injury
- Radiation-related soft tissue necrosis
- Chronic pelvic radiation injury that persists despite appropriate conventional management
Common ICD-10 Codes
Quickly Identify Potential Radiation-Injury Referrals
See one of these diagnoses in your patient’s chart?
A hyperbaric evaluation may be appropriate when the patient’s clinical history and documentation support delayed radiation tissue injury. Our insurance team handles the coverage review for your patient. We will review benefits, medical documentation, and payer-specific requirements and coordinate directly with the patient and referring office if additional information is needed. We work with Medicare and select commercial insurance plans, including UnitedHealthcare and Cigna. Coverage varies by plan and medical necessity criteria, and our team will verify each patient individually.
Simply send us the referral and available clinical records — our team will take it from there.
ICD-10 coding alone does not establish medical necessity or insurance coverage. Our insurance team will complete the benefits verification and coverage review based on the patient’s diagnosis, clinical history, supporting documentation, and individual insurance plan.
Why HBOT?
Radiation can progressively damage small blood vessels within previously irradiated tissue, contributing to reduced vascularity, chronic hypoxia, fibrosis, and impaired tissue repair.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy increases tissue oxygen availability and, with repeated exposures, may support:
- Angiogenesis & neovascularization
- Increased oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissue
- Improved tissue perfusion
- Fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis
- Tissue repair and remodeling
HBOT is used to support the underlying radiation-damaged tissue environment, rather than simply addressing an individual symptom such as bleeding.
Information to Send With a Referral
- Referral/prescription
- Urology office notes
- Cancer diagnosis and treatment history
- Radiation oncology records
- Radiation dates and dose
- Cystoscopy report
- Description and history of hematuria or urinary symptoms
- Relevant imaging and laboratory results
- Previous interventions for radiation cystitis
- Current medications
Our team can assist with record review, insurance verification, scheduling, and coordination with the referring office.
Clinical Research & References
Explore the Science Behind
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
Delayed Radiation Injury — Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis
UHMS — Delayed Radiation Injury
UHMS — HBO Indications
