Partial seizure provoked by hyperbaric oxygen therapy: possible mechanisms and implications

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) is used commonly for treatment of bone and soft-tissue radiation necrosis. It may be a potential therapy for radiation necrosis seen after brain irradiation. HBO2 risks include generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. We report a patient after resection of anaplastic astrocytoma and 5,580 cGy of total external-beam radiation treatments with brain radiation necrosis who underwent HBO2 therapy and developed a partial seizure during treatment. Mechanisms and implications are discussed.