Cystitis After Radiation

Synonyms

Giant cell cystitis after radiation therapy; Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the urothelium; Radiation cystitis

Definition

Acute or chronic cystitis which can occur after radiation treatment involving the urinary bladder

Clinical Features

• Incidence

  It is common in patients following pelvic radiotherapy. It may be acute or chronic. The clinical and histological features are time- and dose-dependent. Early symptoms can occur 4–6 weeks after the starting of therapy (acute onset); later symptoms may occur years later (5–10 years later) (Fajardo and Berthrong 1978).

• Age

  In adult patients

• Sex

  Mainly, it occurs in men treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer. In the female patients, it is related to radiotherapy for gynecological malignancies.

• Site

  Early changes involve urothelium and lamina propria of the bladder; late changes involve also muscular layers and wall of the vessels.

• Treatment

  In cystitis after radiation, patients often present hematuria or voiding symptoms....