title: Clinical experience in 89 consecutive cases of chronic radiation enterocolitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelvic irradiation has been a popular therapy modality for cervical cancer for many years, and its usage in rectal cancer and prostate cancer cases is on the rise. However, it is associated with significant side effects. In this study, we compared the different characteristics of surgical and nonsurgical patients who were treated for radiation enterocolitis, the treatment results, posttreatment quality of life (QOL), nutrition status, and predisposing factors for surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1985 to 2009, the records of a total of 89 patients with chronic radiation enterocolitis in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed for demographic data, operative data and long-term treatment results. Posttreatment QOL and nutrition status were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent predicting factors associated with surgical intervention. Characteristics of surgical and nonsurgical patients were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiotherapy before 1995, concomitant radiation uropathy and smoking were independent predictive factors for surgery. Surgical and nonsurgical cases had similar Kaplan-Meier curves. Although the recurrence rate of radiation enterocolitis was much higher for the surgical group (p = 0.031), both groups had similar QOL score (median: 8 vs.7; p = 0.709), serum albumin level (3.29 g/dL vs. 3.16 g/dL; p = 0.095), and body mass index (20.19 vs. 19.86; p = 0.603).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that as compared with recently developed innovative techniques, early primitive radiotherapy techniques were associated with more severe radiotherapy complications that required surgery. Smoking may enhance patients' vulnerability to severe radiation injury. Surgery for radiation-induced intestinal obstruction, intestinal fistula and perforation is warranted because QOL, serum albumin level and body mass index were similar between the surgical and nonsurgical groups.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-Fan
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Ta-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Joe-Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Te-Hsin
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Hsiu-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hwei-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects