Medical management of radiation effects on the intestines

Deepak Parakkal, Eli D. Ehrenpreis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite advances in the delivery of pelvic radiotherapy, radiation-related injuries of the small and large intestines remain one of the most prominent acute and chronic toxicities of treatment. Management of acute toxicity is mainly symptomatic. Options for chronic radiation enteropathy include low-residue diet, nutritional supplementation, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, and total parenteral nutrition. Chronic radiation proctopathy can be managed using either nonendoscopic methods including sucralfate enemas, oral vitamin A and HBO therapy, and/or endoscopic methods for rectal bleeding, including bipolar electrocautery, heater probe, and argon plasma coagulation. Several preventive options are available, including amifostine, a scavenger of radiation-induced free radicals.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRadiation Therapy for Pelvic Malignancy and its Consequences
PublisherSpringer New York
Pages205-220
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781493922178
ISBN (Print)9781493922161
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

Keywords

  • Intestines/radiation effects
  • Radiation injuries/adverse effects
  • Radiation injuries/drug therapy
  • Radiation injuries/prevention and control
  • Radiation injuries/therapy
  • Radiotherapy/adverse effects

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