Humidification mitigates acute mucosal toxicity during radiotherapy when factoring volumetric parameters. Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) RadioHUM 07.03 substudy

The rationale for domiciliary humidification during head and neck radiotherapy to ameliorate symptoms associated with mucositis using a high flow rate humidifier with nasal prong interface is based on principles of moist wound care, or in other words to reduce the impact of wound desiccation on tissue injury. This may help mitigate the intense pro-inflammatory environment characteristic of mucositis pathobiology [1,2]. Moisturisation aids nutrient delivery and facilitates migration of cells across epithelial surfaces during wound healing.
Source: Oral Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research