Late effects of radiation therapy on the gastrointestinal tract
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
- Washington Univ. Medical Center, St. Louis, MO (United States)
- North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
Late gastrointestinal complications of radiation therapy have been recognized but not extensively studied. In this paper, the late effects of radiation on three gastrointestinal sites, the esophagus, the stomach, and the bowel, are described. Esophageal dysmotility and benign stricture following esophageal irradiation are predominantly a result of damage to the esophageal wall, although mucosal ulcerations also may persist following high-dose radiation. The major late morbidity following gastric irradiation is gastric ulceration caused by mucosal destruction. Late radiation injury to the bowel, which may result in bleeding, frequency, fistula formation, and, particularly in small bowel, obstruction, is caused by damage to the entire thickness of the bowel wall, and predisposing factors have been identified. For each site a description of the pathogenesis, clinical findings, and present management is offered. Simple and reproducible endpoint scales for late toxicity measurement were developed and are presented for each of the three gastrointestinal organs. Factors important in analyzing late complications and future considerations in evaluation and management of radiation-related gastrointestinal injury are discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 90885
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 31, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: 30 Mar 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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