Acute and late toxicity of patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing irradiation for abdominal and pelvic neoplasms

Purpose: Little data exists in the medical literature describing the respon se of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to abdominal and pelvi c irradiation. To clarify the use of this modality in this setting, this st udy assesses the short- and long-term tolerance of 28 patients with IBD to abdominal and pelvic irradiation, Methods and Materials: From 1970 to 1999, 28 patients with IBD (10 patients -Crohn's disease, 18 patients-ulcerative colitis) were identified and under went external beam abdominal or pelvic irradiation. Mean follow up time aft er radiation therapy was 32 months. Patients were treated either by special ized techniques (16 patients) to minimize small and large bowel irradiation or by more conventional approaches (12 patients), Acute and late toxicity was scored. Results: The overall incidence of severe toxicity was 46% (13/28 patients). Six of 28 patients (21%) experienced severe acute toxicity necessitating c essation of radiation therapy. Late toxicity requiring hospitalization or s urgical intervention was observed in 8 of 28 patients (29%), One patient ex perienced both an acute as well as late toxicity, For patients undergoing r adiation therapy by conventional approaches, the 5-year actuarial rate of l ate toxicity was 73%, This figure was 23% for patients treated by specializ ed techniques (p = 0.02), Conclusions: Because of the potentially severe toxicity experienced by pati ents with IBD undergoing abdominal and pelvic irradiation, judicious use of this modality must be employed, Definition of IBD location and activity as well as careful attention to irradiation technique may allow treatment of these patients with acceptable rates of morbidity, (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Inc.