Formalin dab for treatment of haemorrhagic radiation proctitis.
The authors present a case of a 75-year-old man who underwent 2 months of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. He developed rectal bleeding 6 months later. A colonoscopy showed radiation proctitis with no other abnormalities up to the caecum. He was treated with a variety of medical therapies and argon beam laser with minimal effect. He was treated with epinephrine injection after a subsequent flexible sigmoidoscopy. He required multiple blood transfusions because of the resulting anaemia. He was finally treated with topical formalin dab therapy over three sessions, after which his rectal bleeding subsided and haemoglobin levels eventually reached normal levels.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Blackburn, UK. azzam187@doctors.org.uk
Azzam
A
Al-Amin
Richard
R
Cowley
Nigel
N
Scott
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011349:Proctitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005557:Formaldehyde