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</div><div><span>Radiation enteritis</span></div></div>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Radiation <a test="test" href="./001149.htm">enteritis</a> is damage to the lining of the intestines (bowels) caused by <a test="test" href="./001918.htm">radiation therapy</a>, which is used for some types of cancer treatment.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells. If directed to the belly or pelvic area, the therapy may also damage healthy cells in the lining of the intestines.</p><p>People at risk may include people with cervical, pancreatic, prostate, uterine, or colon or rectal cancer.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Symptoms may vary, depending on which part of the intestines received the radiation. Symptoms can be worse if:</p><ul><li>You have chemotherapy at the same time as the radiation.</li><li>You receive stronger doses of radiation.</li><li>A larger area of your intestines receives radiation.</li></ul><p>Symptoms may occur during, shortly after, or long after radiation treatment.</p><p>Changes in bowel movements may include:</p><ul><li>Bleeding or mucus from the rectum</li><li>Diarrhea or watery stools</li><li>Feeling the need to have a bowel movement most or all of the time</li><li>Pain in the rectal area, especially during bowel movements </li></ul><p>Other symptoms can include:</p><ul><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Nausea and vomiting </li></ul><p>Most of the time, these symptoms get better within 2 to 3 months after radiation treatment ends. However, the condition may occur months or years after radiation therapy.</p><p>When symptoms become long-term (chronic), other problems may include:</p><ul><li>Abdominal pain</li><li>Bloody diarrhea</li><li>Greasy or fatty stools</li><li>Weight loss </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>The health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history.</p><p>Tests may include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003885.htm">Sigmoidoscopy</a> or <a test="test" href="./003886.htm">colonoscopy</a></li><li><div><a test="test" href="./003888.htm">Upper endoscopy</a></div></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Starting a low-fiber diet on the first day of radiation treatment may help you avoid problems. The best choice of foods depends on your symptoms. </p><p>Some things can make symptoms worse, and should be avoided. These include: </p><ul><li>Alcohol and tobacco</li><li>Almost all milk products</li><li>Coffee, tea, chocolate, and sodas with caffeine</li><li>Foods containing whole bran</li><li>Fresh and dried fruits</li><li>Fried, greasy, or fatty foods</li><li>Nuts and seeds</li><li>Popcorn, potato chips, and pretzels</li><li>Raw vegetables</li><li>Rich pastries and baked goods</li><li>Some fruit juices</li><li>Strong spices </li></ul><p>Foods and drinks that are better choices include:</p><ul><li>Apple or grape juice</li><li>Applesauce, peeled apples, and bananas</li><li>Eggs, buttermilk, and yogurt</li><li>Fish, poultry, and meat that has been broiled or roasted</li><li>Mild, cooked vegetables, such as asparagus tips, green or black beans, carrots, spinach, and squash</li><li>Potatoes that have been baked, boiled, or mashed</li><li>Processed cheeses, such as American cheese</li><li>Smooth peanut butter</li><li>White bread, macaroni, or noodles </li></ul><p>Your provider may have you use certain medicines such as:</p><ul><li>Medicines that help decrease diarrhea, such as loperamide</li><li>Pain medicines</li><li>Steroid foam that coats the lining of the rectum</li><li>Special enzymes to replace enzymes from the pancreas</li><li>Oral 5-aminosalicylates or metronidazole</li><li>Rectal installation with hydrocortisone, sucralfate, 5-aminosalicylates</li></ul><p>Other things you can do include:</p><ul><li>Eat foods at room temperature.</li><li>Eat small meals more often.</li><li>Drink plenty of fluids, up to 12 8-ounce (240 milliliter) glasses every day when you have diarrhea. Some people will need fluids given through a vein (intravenous fluids).</li></ul><p>Your provider may choose to decrease your radiation for a short period of time.</p><p>There often are no good treatments for chronic radiation enteritis that is more severe.</p><ul><li>Medicines such as cholestyramine, diphenoxylate-atropine, loperamide, or sucralfate may help.</li><li>Thermal therapy (argon laser probe, plasma coagulation, heater probe).</li><li>You may need to consider surgery to either remove or go around (bypass) a section of damaged intestine.</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>When the abdomen receives radiation, there is always some nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In most cases, the symptoms get better within 2 to 3 months after treatment ends.</p><p>However, when this condition develops, symptoms may last for a long period of time. Long-term (chronic) enteritis is rarely curable.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Complications may include:</p><ul><li>Bleeding and <a test="test" href="./000560.htm">anemia</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000982.htm">Dehydration</a></li><li>Iron deficiency</li><li><a test="test" href="./000299.htm">Malabsorption</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000404.htm">Malnutrition</a></li><li>Weight loss </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Contact your provider if you are having radiation therapy or have had it in the past and are having a lot of diarrhea or stomach pain and cramping.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Radiation enteropathy; Radiation-induced small bowel injury; Post-radiation enteritis; Radiation proctitis; Radiation proctopathy</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1090t.jpg" alt="Digestive system" title="Digestive system" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1090.htm">Digestive system</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/8710t.jpg" alt="Digestive system organs" title="Digestive system organs" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/8710.htm">Digestive system organs</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Kuemmerle JF. Inflammatory and anatomic diseases of the intestine, peritoneum, mesentery, and omentum. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 128.</p><p>National Cancer Institute website. Gastrointestinal complications PDQ patient version. <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/constipation/gi-complications-pdq" target="_blank">www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/constipation/gi-complications-pdq</a>. Updated January 5, 2024. Accessed July 4, 2024.</p><p>Tanksley JP, Willett CG, Czito BG, Palta M. Acute and chronic gastrointestinal side effects of radiation therapy. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. <em>Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease</em>. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 41.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 6/11/2024</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p>
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