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Radiation Colitis

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

  • 288 Accesses

Synonyms

Radiation-associated colitis; Radiation proctitis

Definition

Radiation colitis results from exposure to ionizing radiation in the treatment of malignancies where the colon is localized in the path of the radiation beam. Tissues containing numerous actively dividing cells such as intestinal epithelial cells are more at risk for the development of radiation-induced injury. An acute and chronic type of radiation colitis is described. The acute changes develop very early within hours to several days after exposure. In this phase, the radiosensitive actively dividing cells of the intestinal epithelium are affected, and histologic changes are mainly observed in the mucosa. This acute syndrome, characterized by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, is usually transient and does not require further diagnostic or therapeutic action. Chronicradiation colitis develops after a symptom-free interval of 6 months to 30 years after radiation. The pathogenesis of this type of injury is based on...

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References and Further Reading

  • Berthrong, M., & Fajardo, L. F. (1981). Radiation injury in surgical pathology. Part II. Alimentary tract. American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 5, 153–178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coia, L. R., Myerson, R. J., & Tepper, J. E. (1995). Late effects of radiation therapy on the gastrointestinal tract. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 31, 1213–1236.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, G. W., McAuliffe, N., & Murray, D. (1984). Colitis cystica profunda occurring in a radiation-induced colonic stricture. Human Pathology, 15, 295–298.

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  • Leupin, N., Curschmann, J., Kranzbühler, H., Maurer, C. A., Laissue, J. A., & Mazzucchelli, L. (2002). Acute radiation colitis in patients treated with short-term preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer. American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 26, 498–504.

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  • Novak, J. M., Collins, J. T., Donowitz, M., Farman, J., Sheahan, D. G., & Spiro, H. M. (1979). Effects of radiation on the human gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 1, 9–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Liesbeth Ferdinande

Authors
  1. Liesbeth Ferdinande
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liesbeth Ferdinande .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Centro Hospitalar São João and Ipatimup/i3S, Porto, Portugal

    Fátima Carneiro

  2. Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa de Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paula Chaves

  3. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

    Paula Chaves

  4. Department of Pathology, Ankara University Medical School, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Arzu Ensari

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Ferdinande, L. (2017). Radiation Colitis. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1445

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1445

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40559-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40560-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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