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), Vol. 4:9/10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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DIARRHEA
RADIOINDUCTION
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
LACTOSE
NAUSEA
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SMALL INTESTINE
EARLY RADIATION EFFECTS
CARCINOMAS
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
OVARIES
PARTIAL BODY IRRADIATION
PATIENTS
PELVIS
UTERUS
WOMEN
X RADIATION
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARBOHYDRATES
COBALT ISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISACCHARIDES
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GONADS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
INTESTINES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
SACCHARIDES
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man