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Emergency Surgery After Previous Radiation Therapy

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Surgical Emergencies in the Cancer Patient

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Abstract

In the treatment of cancer, radiation therapy continues to be a valuable and widely used tool. Although radiation therapy can be a very effective component in both curative and palliative treatments, radiation therapy does have potential downsides, including the possibility of increased risk of surgical complications. For surgeons evaluating previously irradiated patients, particularly in the case of emergency surgery, it is both important and prudent to understand the issues surrounding radiation therapy, especially considering the increasing complexity of radiation therapy treatments.

This chapter explores the challenges presented in emergency surgery of cancer patients who have previously received radiation therapy and investigates many aspects of this issue. Some basics of radiation therapy terminology and biology are discussed. Fundamental normal tissue effects of radiation exposure are described, with a view to understanding the potential for surgical complications related to radiation therapy. Finally, strategies are explored to minimize the risk of surgical complications in these patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sutter Health California, 2333 Buchanan Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA

    Roy E. Abendroth M.D.

  2. Radiation Oncology, Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    LiXi Yang M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Roy E. Abendroth M.D.
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  2. LiXi Yang M.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roy E. Abendroth M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA

    Yuman Fong

  2. Department of Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA

    Rondi Marie Kauffmann

  3. Surgical Oncology Hepatobiliary Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA

    Emily Marcinkowski

  4. Department of Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Durate, California, USA

    Gagandeep Singh

  5. Department of Surgery, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA

    Hans F. Schoellhammer

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Abendroth, R.E., Yang, L. (2017). Emergency Surgery After Previous Radiation Therapy. In: Fong, Y., Kauffmann, R., Marcinkowski, E., Singh, G., Schoellhammer, H. (eds) Surgical Emergencies in the Cancer Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44025-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44025-5_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44025-5

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