title: Conservative therapies for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis: a review.
abstract: Chronic radiation proctitis represents a challenging condition seen with increased frequency due to the common use of radiation for treatment of pelvic cancer. Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis represents the most feared complication of chronic radiation proctitis. There is no consensus for the management of this condition despite the great number of clinical approaches and techniques that have been employed. Rectal resection represents an available option although associated with high morbidity and risk of permanent colostomy. The effectiveness of nonoperative approaches remains far from desirable, and hemorrhagic recurrence represents a major drawback that leads to a need for consecutive therapeutic sessions and combination of techniques. We conducted a critical review of published reports regarding conservative management of hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis. Although prospective randomized trials about hemorrhagic radiation proctitis are still lacking, there is enough evidence to conclude that topical formalin therapy and an endoscopic approach delivering an argon plasma coagulation represent available options associated with elevated effectiveness for interruption of rectal bleeding in patients with chronic radiation proctitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cotti
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seid
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Afonso Henrique Silva e
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Desid rio Roberto
authors.initials: Dr
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Angelita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habr-Gama
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011349:Proctitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*