Management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding.

Abstract

Pelvic radiation disease is one of the major complication after radiotherapy for pelvic cancers. The most commonly reported symptom is rectal bleeding which affects patients' quality of life. Therapeutic strategies for rectal bleeding are generally ignored and include medical, endoscopic, and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Most cases of radiation-induced bleeding are mild and self-limiting, and treatment is normally not indicated. In cases of clinically significant bleeding (i.e. anaemia), medical therapies, including stool softeners, sucralfate enemas, and metronidazole, should be considered as first-line treatment options. In cases of failure, endoscopic therapy, mainly represented by argon plasma coagulation and hyperbaric oxygen treatments, are valid and complementary second-line treatment strategies. Although current treatment options are not always supported by high-quality studies, patients should be reassured that treatment options exist and success is achieved in most cases if the patient is referred to a dedicated centre.

• Authors: Liboria Laterza, Paolo Cecinato, Alessandra Guido, Alessandro Mussetto, Lorenzo Fuccio
• Journal: Current gastroenterology reports (Curr Gastroenterol Rep) Vol. 15 Issue 11 Pg. 355 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 1534-312X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24101202 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Gastrointestinal Agents

Topics

• Combined Modality Therapy
• Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
• Gastrointestinal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (etiology, therapy)
• Hemostatic Techniques
• Humans
• Hyperbaric Oxygenation
• Pelvic Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Radiation Injuries (etiology, therapy)
• Rectum