Radiation colitis

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]

Radiation colitis
SpecialtyGastroenterology
CausesRadiation therapy

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
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
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