Dipankar Ray
Pelvic radiation is increasingly being used for management of genitourinary and lower gastrointestinal malignancies. Radiation induced damage to rectum, colon can present as acute radiation proctitis or chronic radiation proctitis (CRP), which presents months later. In South East Asia including India, cancer cervix is very commonly treated by radiotherapy. Rectal complications are quite common in these cases. Pain, irregular bowel and most important bleeding which leads to anaemia- these make quality of life very poor for these patients. Diagnosis is confirmed by endoscopy. Management of CRP is also not standardized. Endoscopic, non-endoscopic, surgical- all have roles in management of this condition.
