Radiation colitis
| Radiation colitis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Gastroenterology |
| Causes | Radiation therapy |
Radiation colitis is injury to the colon caused by radiation therapy.[1] It is usually associated with treatment for prostate cancer or cervical cancer.[1] Common symptoms are diarrhea, a feeling of being unable to empty the bowel,[2] gastrointestinal bleeding, and abdominal pain.[1]
If symptoms of radiation colitis onset within 60 days of exposure to radiation, it is referred to as acute; otherwise, it is classified as chronic.[1] Acute radiation colitis may onset within a few hours of radiation exposure, and may clear up within two or three months after radiation ends.[1] Between 5 and 15% of individuals who receive radiation to the pelvis may have chronic radiation colitis.[1] Radiation therapy can also affect the bowel at the small intestine (radiation enteritis) or the rectum (radiation proctitis).[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Odze RD, Goldblum JF (2014). Odze and Goldblum surgical pathology of the GI tract, liver, biliary tract and pancreas. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 480. ISBN 9781455733248.
- ^ a b Kennedy GD, Heise CP (February 2007). "Radiation colitis and proctitis". Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 20 (1): 64–72. doi:10.1055/s-2007-970202. PMC 2780150. PMID 20011363.