Effect of pelvic irradiation of lactose absorption. [. gamma. rays or x rays were used in gynecologic malignancy therapy]
Twenty-four patients undergoing pelvic irradiation for gynecologic malignancies had /sup 14/C-lactose breath tests performed in the first and fifth weeks of their treatment. The /sup 14/C-lactose breath test was performed by administering 2 ..mu..Ci of /sup 14/C-lactose by mouth along with 50 g of lactose. Breath samples were collected in ethanolic hyamine 1, 2, and 3 hr later; the radioactivity of the trapped /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ was determined by liquid scintillation spectroscopy. In the first week of treatment the percentage of administered /sup 14/C excreted as /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ at 1, 2, and 3 hr was 1.7 +- 0.8% (mean +- SD), 4.5 +- 1.6%, and 5.8 +- 1.4%, respectively. In the fifth week of treatment the 1-hr, 2-hr, and 3-hr values were 1.2 +- 0.9%, 3.6 +- 2.0%, and 4.7 +- 1.9%, respectively. The difference between the first week and fifth week test results at 1, 2, and 3 hr was statistically significant (t = 2.64, p < 0.02), (t = 2.24, p < 0.05), (t = 2.95, p < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between the 1-hr /sup 14/C-lactose breath test results in the fifth week and the stool frequency at that time (r = -0.44, p < 0.05). Seven of 12 patients whose 1 hr /sup 14/C-lactose breath test results in the fifth week were below normal (<1.2%) had nausea at that time. The data suggest that in some patients, lactose malabsorption as a result of the effect of radiation on small intestinal function may be etiologically related to the symptoms of nausea and diarrhea which occur commonly in patients who are undergoing pelvic irradiation. In addition, the results suggest that lactose-containing foods should be restricted in some patients who are undergoing pelvic irradiation to prevent symptoms resulting from radiation-induced lactose intolerance.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., Hershey, PA
- OSTI ID:
- 6585911
- Journal Information:
- Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 4:9/10; ISSN IOBPD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARCINOMAS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
DIARRHEA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISACCHARIDES
DISEASES
EARLY RADIATION EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
GAMMA RADIATION
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GONADS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
INTESTINES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LACTOSE
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NAUSEA
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OVARIES
PARTIAL BODY IRRADIATION
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
PELVIS
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SACCHARIDES
SIDE EFFECTS
SMALL INTESTINE
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
UPTAKE
UTERUS
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN
X RADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES