Radiation-induced gastrointestinal fistulae.
Seventy patients with radiation enteritis presented to a single surgical unit between 1958 and 1984. Of these 10 (14%) had 14 radiation-induced fistulae. The median latent period between radiotherapy and presentation of the fistula was 20 months. The fistulae were often multiple and/or associated with other radiation-induced lesions, patients presenting with fistulae being significantly more likely to have synchronous lesions compared with those who presented with strictures (P = 0.005). These patients are often unfit for major surgery. Wide resection and anastomosis, or exclusion operations are the surgical procedures of choice.
D004751:Enteritis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005747:Gastric Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*