Imaging of complications of oncological therapy in the gastrointestinal system

Abstract

Treatment of cancer involves a multidisciplinary approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy and radiation therapy. These therapies work on the tumor cells to result in cell stasis or cell death. The same mechanism can result in toxicity to the normal gastrointestinal tract. Radiation therapy can cause acute and chronic injury. The chronic injury results from involvement of the vascular supply of the gastrointestinal tract and by causing fibrosis. The purpose of this article is to describe the imaging of complications resulting from oncologic treatment in the gastrointestinal system.

Chewing Xylitol Gum could Accelerate Bowel motility Recovery after Elective Open Proctectomy for Rectal Cancer

“…In our study, the gum-chewing group was given fewer opioid analgesics postoperatively than the control group, and the exact reason for this discrepancy was unclear, probably because chewing gum distracted the patient's attention from pain. Because radiation therapy can cause colonic or rectal wall thickening and colonic strictures 26 , this can lead to intestinal obstruction. Considering these complications, we excluded patients with pre-operative radiotherapy.…”

Drug-induced bowel complications and toxicities: imaging findings and pearls

“…The ascending colon and terminal ileum may be involved. These conditions are typically identified in patients with leukemia or lymphoma who are receiving chemotherapy, or in patients who are undergoing stem cell transplantation [43,44]. Neutropenia, intestinal mucosal injury, and ischemia with a superimposed infection have been postulated to be the mechanisms.…”

Neumatosis intestinal, un hallazgo intraoperatorio inusual

“…Esta enfermedad se caracteriza por la presencia de gas en la pared del intestino (1-5) y, por lo general, se diagnostica como un hallazgo radiológico incidental (3,6). La patogenia es aún desconocida, pero existen varias teorías: mecánica, bacteriana, bioquímica y dietética (1,4,7,8).…”

“…Su etiología es diversa (2,3) y se clasifica de acuerdo a su causa y a su pronóstico en primaria (15%) y secundaria (85%) (6,8). La NI puede tener un curso benigno o presentarse como una enfermedad más grave (2,3,(7)(8)(9)(10).…”