STUDIES ON FIVE CASES OF RADIATION ENTEROCOLITIS

Five patients with radiation enterocolitis who were surgically treated are reported. The 5 patients had recieved irradiation therapy more than 5, 000rad for ginecologic malignancies. The period for the onset of symptoms of irradiation enteritis ranged from 8 months to 20 years however, 3 of them developed the symptoms within one year after irradiation therapy. Emergency surgery was carried out for bowel obstruction in 3 cases and for intestinal perforation in 2 cases. Bowel resection and primary anastomosis were performed by a one-step approach in 4 of them. Transient colostomy as preventive measure was added in 2 cases.It is very important for the one-step approach to resect the intestine at the healthy part far from the lesion of irradiation enteritis and to add a transient colostomy to prevent anastomolic insufficiency. Furthermore, suture material should be used less tissue reactive one.