Late gastrointestinal complications after pelvic radiotherapy: radiation enteritis

Abstract

Radiation enteritis must be initially conservatively managed, but in those cases without response, surgery is indicated. Surgical treatment should not be delayed fearing postoperative complications, which are more susceptible to appear in deteriorated patients. If technically possible, the affected region should be resected, because complications may appear later at this damaged location.

A retrospective study of surgical treatment of chronic radiation enteritis

“…Kimose et al also found a combination of radiotherapy injuries affecting the colon, rectum, small bowel, or the urinary tract in 62% of their 182 patients 26. According to Ruiz Tovar et al 27, the most common location of late radiation lesions were ileum and rectum, which comprised 60.4% and 24.2% of patients, respectively. Therefore, it is possible that two or more lesions coexist in the same patient.…”

Perforación intestinal secundaria a retención de cápsula endoscópica en un paciente con enteritis por radiación

“…17 La localización más frecuente de lesión por radiación es el íleon (70%). 18 El daño inducido por radioterapia en tejido de proliferación rápida, tal como la mucosa intestinal, puede ser observado en tan sólo días o semanas. 19 Los cambios en la arquitectura del intestino delgado se pueden dividir en agudos y crónicos.…”

Radiation enteritidis diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy

“…The diagnosis of chronic radiation enteritidis requires a great suspicion. The incidence is increasing as more patients undergo radiotherapy for cancer treatment (2). An immunological imbalance probably plays a role in the pathological changes (3).…”