Introduction: the radiation of tumours located in pelvic organs can cause mucositis in the bowel. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and complications of chronic radiation enteritis in patients who had received pelvic radiotherapy.
Patients and methods: cross-sectional study recruiting 150 patients that had been treated with radiation therapy during the year 2008 because of a prostate, cervical, endometrial or rectal cancer. The patients were asked about symptoms related to enteritis, and about changes in body weight and in dietary patterns. Sex, age, treatment modalities, acute enteritis, and type of cancer were considered possible risk factors, and were analysed with univariate and multivariate methods.
Results: the study included 100 patients, 84% males, median age 72.3 years. Chronic radiation enteritis was found in 20% of the patients, most of them grade 1 (45%). Furthermore, 10% had lost ≥ 5 kg of weight, 3% had been hospitalized due to diarrhoea or bowel obstruction, and 11% had changed their diet, mainly by removing vegetables, legumes and pastry. Male gender, age, previous acute radiation enteritis, and chemotherapy were associated with chronic enteritis, but only chemotherapy remained independently related to bowel toxicity after multivariate analysis (OR = 3.59 [95% CI 1.20-10.73]).
Conclusion: chronic enteritis is common among patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy, especially if chemotherapy is associated. The complication rate is low, but a significant number of patients change their usual diet in order to prevent symptoms.
Introducción: la radiacion de los tumores de la cavidad pelvica puede provocar mucositis a nivel intestinal. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar la prevalencia, los factores de riesgo y las complicaciones de la enteritis radica cronica en los pacientes tratados con radioterapia pelvica. Pacientes y métodos: estudio transversal sobre 150 pacientes tratados con radioterapia pelvica durante el ano 2008 debido a un cancer de prostata, cervix, endometrio o recto. Se interrogo a los pacientes sobre la presencia de sintomas sugestivos de enteritis y sobre cambios en el peso habitual y modificaciones en su dieta. Los parametros considerados como posibles factores de riesgo de enteritis cronica (sexo, edad, tratamiento antitumoral, enteritis aguda previa y tipo de tumor) se analizaron con metodos univariantes y multivariantes. Resultados: el estudio incluyo finalmente a 100 pacientes, el 84% varones, con una mediana de edad de 72,3 anos. Se encontro una prevalencia de enteritis radica cronica del 20%, en la mayoria de grado 1 (45%). Por otra parte, el 10% referian una perdida de peso ≥ 5 kg, el 3% habian requerido hospitalizacion debido a diarrea incoercible o a obstruccion intestinal, y el 11% habian modificado su patron de alimentacion habitual, reduciendo principalmente el consumo de verduras, legumbres y dulces. Se encontro asociacion entre la enteritis radica cronica y el sexo masculino, la edad, la enteritis radica aguda previa y la quimioterapia, pero solo esta resulto asociarse de forma independiente con el desarrollo de enteritis radica cronica despues del analisis multivariante (OR = 3,59 [95% CI 1,20–10,73]). Conclusión: la enteritis cronica es una entidad frecuente en los pacientes tratados con radioterapia pelvica, sobre todo cuando se asocia con quimioterapia. La tasa de complicaciones por esta patologia es baja, pero un numero importante de pacientes realiza modificaciones en su dieta habitual para aliviar o evitar la sintomatologia derivada de aquella.
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