RADIATION ESOPHAGITIS

Course overview

RADIATION ESOPHAGITIS IS INFLAMMATION OF THE ESOPHAGITIS DUE TO RADIATION. RADIATION ESOPHAGITIS IS TYPICALLY AN ADVERSE EFFECT THAT DEVELOPS IN INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING RADIATION CANCER THERAPY, MOST COMMONLY FOR BREAST, LUNG, AND OTHER LYMPHOMAS. SYMPTOMS PRESENT TWO TO THREE WEEKS AFTER INITIAL THERAPY AND INCLUDE THROAT PAIN, DYSPHAGIA, AND THE SENSATION THAT FOOD IS STUCK. ETHYOL (AMIFOSTINE) IS A MEDICATION USED AS A RADIATION PROTECTOR IN SELECTED POPULATIONS AT RISK OF RADIATION ESOPHAGITIS. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF RADIATION ESOPHAGITIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.