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Radiation Enteritis

Mark Stephens, MD MS Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

  • Radiation enteritis (RE) is an inflammatory injury to the large and/or small intestines resulting from radiation therapy (RT).

  • Many cancer patients acquire RT as part of their treatment.

  • Radiatio...

DIAGNOSIS

  • All patients with a history of RT are at risk. While the diagnosis can usually be made on clinical grounds, it is important to eliminate other causes.

  • Many do not seek medical care for chroni...

TREATMENT

  • Acute RE: Treat symptomatically (diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain).

  • Chronic RE: There is a need for selective surgical intervention if obstruction, fistula and/or bleeding fails to respond ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Depression is common and may contribute to malnutrition. Use of antidepressants may offer benefit. Emotional support at follow-up visits is important. 

DIET

  • Malnutr...

REFERENCES

1
Loge L, Florescu C, Alves A, et al. Radiation enteritis: diagnostic and therapeutic issues. J Visc Surg. 2020;157(6):475–485. doi: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2020.08.012.
2
Lu L, Li W, Chen L, et a...

CODES

ICD10

K52.0 Gastroenteritis and colitis due to radiation 

SNOMED

  • 73817000 Enteritis due to radiation (disorder)

  • 235707005 Acute radiation enteritis (disorder)

  • 235708000 Chronic radiation enteropathy ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Radiation injury to the intestinal tract is common and can occur at any time (even decades) after RT.

  • Delayed diagnosis is common because medications, advanced/ongoing malignancy, and o...

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