Arteriodigestive fistula: a complication associated with intraoperative and external beam radiotherapy following surgery for gastric cancer.
Intestinal hemorrhage due to arteriodigestive fistula is described to be a rare and serious complication of radiotherapy. Three cases of this type of fistula in gastric cancer patients treated with gastrectomy, intraoperative electron boost (15 Gy), and fractionated external beam irradiation (46 Gy) are reported. Selective angiography is most helpful in the diagnosis and immediate surgery could be lifesaving. An attempt to explain the etiopathogenesis is made.
de Villa
V H
VH
Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
Calvo
F A
FA
Bilbao
J I
JI
Azinovic
I
I
Balen
E
E
Hernandez
J L
JL
Pardo
F
F
A-Cienfuegos
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002445:Celiac Artery; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery