Urologic Complications Following Pelvic Radiotherapy

Abstract

Radiotherapy is widely used as a curative treatment for pelvic malignancies. The location of these organs leads to unavoidable exposure of the bladder, urethra, and distal ureters to radiation and may cause subsequent development of radiation cystitis, fistulae, strictures, and secondary malignancy. As cancer survival improves, an ever-increasing number of patients is living with the long-term complications of radiotherapy. Symptoms are not only debilitating for the patient but also pose a treatment challenge to the urologist. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and current management strategies for the urologic complications following pelvic radiotherapy.