Rectal Necrosis: A Rare Complication of Palliative Radiotherapy for Sacral Spine Metastasis
Published: May 1, 2018 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/35373.11510
Seyed Jalal Eshagh Hosseini, Adnan Tizmaghz, Bahram Andalib, Ghazaal Shabestanipour
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3. Clinical Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz, Iran.
4. General Physician, Department of Surgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Correspondence
Dr. Adnan Tizmaghz,
Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Hemmat Highway, Tehran-1449614535, Iran.
E-mail: adnan_ti@yahoo.com
Radiation proctocolitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy. In rare cases, chronic radiation injury can be severe enough to cause rectal necrosis. In this study, a case of rectal necrosis after sacral spine radiotherapy was presented. Anterior rectal wall necrosis and rectovaginal fistula is thought to be rare, severe and challenging rectal long-term complication of the previous sacral spine irradiation. Although, rectovaginal fistula which resulted in intractable rectal bleeding seems to be a rare side-effect of radiotherapy, physicians must not forget about this complication, as it can be fatal in patients who often have been cured of cancer.
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