Radiotherapy forms part of the treatment for neoplasia, 1and an estimated 50% of cancer patients will receive thistherapyduring their treatment. 2 The harmful effect of ion-izingradiation can be experienced long after the primarydiseasefor which it was indicated has been resolved. Inthe gastrointestinal tract, it can damage the small bowel,resultingin what is known as ?radiation enteritis?, which can cause bowel obstruction. When it affects the colon it iscalled ?radiation colitis? and ?radiation proctitis? when itinvolvesthe rectum.
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