RADIATION ENTERITIS

Course overview

RADIATION ENTERITIS IS DAMAGE TO THE SMALL AND/OR LARGE INTESTINES SECONDARY TO RADIATION. DIFFERENT TERMS LIKE RADIATION COLITIS, RADIATION ENTEROPATHY, RADIATION MUCOSITIS, AND PELVIC RADIATION DISEASE HAVE BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE THIS PHENOMENON. RADIATION PROCTITIS IS A DIFFERENT TERM THAT IS USED TO DESCRIBE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE RECTUM AND SIGMOID COLON. RADIOTHERAPY IS USED AS A TREATMENT FOR MANY CANCERS. RADIATION ENTERITIS CAN BE ACUTE OR CHRONIC. THE CHRONIC FORM USUALLY DEVELOPS BETWEEN 3 MONTHS TO 30 YEARS AFTER TREATMENT. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RADIATION ENTERITIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.