Anal and rectal function after intensity-modulated prostate radiotherapy with endorectal balloon.

Background And Purpose: Late anorectal toxicity influences quality of life after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer. A daily inserted endorectal balloon (ERB) during EBRT aims to reduce anorectal toxicity. Our goal is to objectify anorectal function over time after prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with ERB.

[Anorectal symptoms after prostate radiotherapy].

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Dutch men and has a relatively good survival rate. Anorectal symptoms after irradiation of the prostate, including rectal blood loss and faecal incontinence, can have a serious impact on quality of life. On endoscopy, the Vienna Rectoscopy Score may reveal telangiectasia or other mucosal changes, but there may also be other causes of blood loss.

Systematic review: anal and rectal changes after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: Pelvic radiotherapy may lead to changes of anorectal function resulting in incontinence-related complaints. The aim of this study was to systematically review objective findings of late anorectal physiology and mucosal appearance after irradiation for prostate cancer.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched.

Impact of late anorectal dysfunction on quality of life after pelvic radiotherapy.

Purpose: Anorectal dysfunction is common after pelvic radiotherapy. This study aims to explore the relationship of subjective and objective anorectal function with quality of life (QoL) and their relative impact in patients irradiated for prostate cancer.

Methods: Patients underwent anal manometry, rectal barostat measurement, and completed validated questionnaires, at least 1 year after prostate radiotherapy (range 1-7 years).

Dose-effect relationships for individual pelvic floor muscles and anorectal complaints after prostate radiotherapy.

Purpose: To delineate the individual pelvic floor muscles considered to be involved in anorectal toxicity and to investigate dose-effect relationships for fecal incontinence-related complaints after prostate radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: In 48 patients treated for localized prostate cancer, the internal anal sphincter (IAS) muscle, the external anal sphincter (EAS) muscle, the puborectalis muscle (PRM), and the levator ani muscles (LAM) in addition to the anal wall (Awall) and rectal wall (Rwall) were retrospectively delineated on planning computed tomography scans. Dose parameters were obtained and compared between patients with and without fecal urgency, incontinence, and frequency.

Differences in radiation dosimetry and anorectal function testing imply that anorectal symptoms may arise from different anatomic substrates.

Purpose: To explore the influence of functional changes and dosimetric parameters on specific incontinence-related anorectal complaints after prostate external beam radiotherapy and to estimate dose-effect relations for the anal wall and rectal wall.

Methods And Materials: Sixty patients, irradiated for localized prostate cancer, underwent anorectal manometry and barostat measurements to evaluate anal pressures, rectal capacity, and rectal sensory functions. In addition, 30 untreated men were analyzed as a control group.

Gastroparesis in patients with inactive Crohn's disease: a case series.

Background: Few studies have described patients with foregut dysmotility in inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this case series was to evaluate clinical characteristics of 5 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and symptoms and signs of upper gut dysmotility.

Case Presentations: We describe a series of four patients with Crohn's disease and one with indeterminate colitis who presented with severe symptoms and signs of gastroparesis.

Gut hormones in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis during starvation and reintroduction of enteral nutrition.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal hormones control gut functions in response to enteral nutrition. Diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, may affect gut hormone secretion and therefore influence gut functions. Because bowel rest is an important part of the treatment, infants with this disease are especially at risk for an altered gut hormone secretion and thus for compromised gut functions.