|
|
Radiation enteritis |
| Definition: |
|
Enteritis occurs when the lining of the small intestine swells and becomes inflamed. When the abdomen is radiated, the normal intestine in the radiation field can be damaged. Side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea often occur during or immediately after radiation therapy. Damage that persists and causes long-standing inflammation in the intestine is called radiation enteritis and results in long-term diarrhea. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Radiation enteropathy; Radiation-induced small bowel injury
|
| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
|
Exposure of the abdomen to radiation can cause radiation enteritis. Anyone whose cancer requires radiation therapy to the abdomen (such as women with cervical or uterine cancer or anyone with rectal cancer) is at risk. When the normal intestine in the radiation field becomes inflamed (enteritis), a patient can develop nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms often occur during or immediately after radiation therapy. If the damage lasts only a short time, it is called acute radiation enteritis, but if damage persists and causes long-standing inflammation in the intestine, it is called chronic radiation enteritis and results in long-term diarrhea. |
| Symptoms: |
|
| Signs and tests: |
| Usually, diagnosis is made by physical exam and history. Occasionally, your doctor may order a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy to look at the lining of intestine directly. These tests are conducted under general anesthesia and a small camera is placed in the intestine to look for inflammation. Biopsies of suspicious areas may also be taken during the procedure. |
| Treatment: |
|
If the cancer was found early and symptoms are present during radiation therapy, often radiation can be stopped for a short period of time or the dosage of radiation adjusted. It is important for you to report all symptoms to your doctor so adjustments can be made as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Unfortunately, there often are no good treatments for chronic Radiation Enteritis. Symptomatic control is the best approach. This includes eating small frequent meals and taking anti-diarrheal or anti-spasmodic agents. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
| When the abdomen is radiated, there is always some degree of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In most cases, the symptoms are self-limiting and resolve when the treatments are completed. In the rare cases where this condition develops, however, symptoms may persist indefinitely. |
| Complications: |
|
| Calling your health care provider: |
| Call your health care provider if you are undergoing radiation therapy or have had radiation in the past and are experiencing a lot of diarrhea. |
| Prevention: |
| By limiting the amount of radiation given to the intestines if possible, you can avoid radiation enteritis. |
Reviewed By: Scott Howard, M.D., M.S., Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
 |
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
