Intestinal damage and malabsorption after treatment for cervical carcinoma.
Sixty-two patients with cervical carcinoma were treated in 1966 to 1968. Thirty-two patients who were alive in 1982 were reevaluated concerning intestinal function. An initial low folate value associated with the disease did not correlate with prognosis. A late low folate value indicated malabsorption and not recurrence of the carcinoma. Malabsorption was found in 5/23 patients (22%) and 3 of these (13%) had vitamin B12 deficiency. Intestinal damage in tumour free patients occurred in 2/62 (3%) patients. It is suggested that late silent complications such as malabsorption should be looked for in the preventive care of these patients.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000209:etiology
D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12