Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Treatment of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach that frequently includes radiotherapy. Gastrointestinal(GI) radiation-induced toxic...Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Treatment of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach that frequently includes radiotherapy. Gastrointestinal(GI) radiation-induced toxicity is a major complication and the transient or long-term problems, ranging from mild to very severe, arising in non-cancerous tissues resulting from radiation treatment to a tumor of pelvic origin, are actually called as pelvic radiation disease. The incidence of pelvic radiation disease changes according to the radiation technique, the length of follow up, the assessmentmethod, the type and stage of cancer and several other variables. Notably, even with the most recent radiation techniques, i.e., intensity-modulated radiotherapy, the incidence of radiation-induced GI side effects is overall reduced but still not negligible. In addition, radiation-induced GI side effects can develop even after several decades; therefore, the improvement of patient life expectancy will unavoidably increase the risk of developing radiation-induced complications. Once developed, the management of pelvic radiation disease may be challenging. Therefore, the prevention of radiation-induced toxicity represents a reasonable way to avoid a dramatic drop of the quality of life of these patients. In the current manuscript we provide an updated and practical review on the best available evidences in the field of the prevention of pelvic radiation disease.展开更多
Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and radiotherapy represents one of the main treatment options. The irradiation field usually encompasses healthy intestinal tissue,especially of distal ...Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and radiotherapy represents one of the main treatment options. The irradiation field usually encompasses healthy intestinal tissue,especially of distal large bowel,thus inducing gastrointestinal(GI) radiation-induced toxicity. Indeed,up to half of radiationtreated patients say that their quality of life is affected by GI symptoms(e.g.,rectal bleeding,diarrhoea). The constellation of GI symptoms- from transient to longterm,from mild to very severe- experienced by patients who underwent radiation treatment for a pelvic tumor have been comprised in the definition of pelvic radiation disease(PRD). A correct and evidence-based therapeutic approach of patients experiencing GI radiation-induced toxicity is mandatory. Therapeutic non-surgical strategies for PRD can be summarized in two broad categories,i.e.,medical and endoscopic. Of note,most of the studies have investigated the management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding. Patients with clinically significant bleeding(i.e.,causing chronic anemia) should firstly be considered for medical management(i.e.,sucralfate enemas,metronidazole and hyperbaric oxygen); in case of failure,endoscopic treatment should be implemented. This latter should be considered the first choice in case of acute,transfusion requiring,bleeding. More well-performed,high quality studies should be performed,especially the role of medical treatments should be better investigated as well as the comparative studies between endoscopic and hyperbaric oxygen treatments.展开更多
文摘Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Treatment of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach that frequently includes radiotherapy. Gastrointestinal(GI) radiation-induced toxicity is a major complication and the transient or long-term problems, ranging from mild to very severe, arising in non-cancerous tissues resulting from radiation treatment to a tumor of pelvic origin, are actually called as pelvic radiation disease. The incidence of pelvic radiation disease changes according to the radiation technique, the length of follow up, the assessmentmethod, the type and stage of cancer and several other variables. Notably, even with the most recent radiation techniques, i.e., intensity-modulated radiotherapy, the incidence of radiation-induced GI side effects is overall reduced but still not negligible. In addition, radiation-induced GI side effects can develop even after several decades; therefore, the improvement of patient life expectancy will unavoidably increase the risk of developing radiation-induced complications. Once developed, the management of pelvic radiation disease may be challenging. Therefore, the prevention of radiation-induced toxicity represents a reasonable way to avoid a dramatic drop of the quality of life of these patients. In the current manuscript we provide an updated and practical review on the best available evidences in the field of the prevention of pelvic radiation disease.
文摘Pelvic cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms and radiotherapy represents one of the main treatment options. The irradiation field usually encompasses healthy intestinal tissue,especially of distal large bowel,thus inducing gastrointestinal(GI) radiation-induced toxicity. Indeed,up to half of radiationtreated patients say that their quality of life is affected by GI symptoms(e.g.,rectal bleeding,diarrhoea). The constellation of GI symptoms- from transient to longterm,from mild to very severe- experienced by patients who underwent radiation treatment for a pelvic tumor have been comprised in the definition of pelvic radiation disease(PRD). A correct and evidence-based therapeutic approach of patients experiencing GI radiation-induced toxicity is mandatory. Therapeutic non-surgical strategies for PRD can be summarized in two broad categories,i.e.,medical and endoscopic. Of note,most of the studies have investigated the management of radiation-induced rectal bleeding. Patients with clinically significant bleeding(i.e.,causing chronic anemia) should firstly be considered for medical management(i.e.,sucralfate enemas,metronidazole and hyperbaric oxygen); in case of failure,endoscopic treatment should be implemented. This latter should be considered the first choice in case of acute,transfusion requiring,bleeding. More well-performed,high quality studies should be performed,especially the role of medical treatments should be better investigated as well as the comparative studies between endoscopic and hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
