REVIEW ARTICLE ON RADIATION-INDUCED PROCTITIS & ENTERITIS

Radiation enteritis is becoming more common as more cancer patients receive radiotherapy and their long-term survival improves. This overview covers causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Radiation enteritis, research, therapy, and prevention were searched for in published studies. Chronic radiation enteritis is documented in up to 20% of pelvic radiotherapy patients, however, this may underestimate its true frequency because not all patients with gastrointestinal symptoms following radiotherapy seek medical attention. Low body mass index, abdominal surgery, and co-morbid disorders predispose to chronic radiation enteritis. Radiation dose, fractionation, method, and chemotherapy may also play a role. Chronic radiation enteritis has many clinical characteristics because it can affect any GI organ. Symptom etiology may be complicated, thus it's vital to arrange studies systematically. Nutrition, antidiarrheals, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, probiotics, pentoxifylline, tocopherol, cholestyramine, hyperbaric oxygen, endoscopic, and surgical therapy have been studied. Given the morbidity and mortality of chronic radiation enteritis, tissue-sparing irradiation treatments are examined. In conclusion, therapeutic and preventative methods for chronic radiation enteritis have minimal evidence, but an organized approach to studying gastrointestinal symptoms following irradiation might allow improved targeting of current medicines. Closer collaboration between oncologists and gastroenterologists will permit a more systematic approach to managing patients and building clinical and research networks for this increasing disease to strengthen its evidence basis.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage, Proctitis, Radiation Injury, Bacterial Overgrowth.