Incidence of radiation enteritis in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy versus adjuvant radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the incidence of early and late radiation enteritis in cervical cancer patients receiving definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT).

Materials and methods: Three hundred and twenty-four cervical cancer patients receiving definite or adjuvant RT in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2012 were divided into definitive (132 patients) or adjuvant RT (192 patients) and performed detailed analysis.

Results: Early radiation enteritis was found in 54.3%, and late radiation enteritis was found in 17.9% of cervical patients. Early (P < 0.007) and late (P < 0.003) radiation enteritis appeared more frequently in patients treated with definitive RT than that with adjuvant RT. In the definitive RT group, incidence of both early and late radiation enteritis in the RT group was higher than in the radiochemotherapy (RCHT) group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.004). Severe cases of late radiation enteritis (Grade 3 and 4) can be seen higher in the definitive radiation group (both the RT and RCHT group) than in the adjuvant radiation group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005).

Conclusion: The incidence of both early and late radiation enteritis in the definitive RT group is higher than in the adjuvant RT group. The occurrence of side effects was associated with the prolongation of total irradiation time due to necessary interruptions of RT. Methods to decrease the interruptions in the RT and the irradiated volume of the small bowel will further lessen enteric morbidity.

Keywords: Adjuvant radiotherapy; definitive radiotherapy; incidence; radiation enteritis.