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Application of 10 percent formalin for the treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic proctitis.

PURPOSE: Rectal instillation of 4 percent formalin solution has been described as a successful treatment for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis recalcitrant to medical treatment. We present our experience with a new method of treatment involving the topical application of 10 percent buffered formalin, which is well tolerated and suitable for office use. METHODS: Patients with marked or refractory rectal bleeding and clinical features consistent with radiation proctitis were reviewed. Treatment involved direct application of a 10 percent buffered formalin solution to the affected mucosa using a 16-inch cotton tip applicator applied through a proctoscope in the office setting. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients with a mean age of 75 (range, 49-91) years were followed for 18 (range, 1-79) months. The interval from radiation exposure to formalin treatment was 21 months. Overall, 93 percent of patients had cessation of bleeding after an average of 3.5 formalin applications at two-week to four-week intervals. Patients with severe (Grade 3) proctitis and those taking aspirin required an average of 1.5 additional treatments. A total of eight patients rebled at a mean of 24 months from treatment; however, all responded to further applications of formalin. Three patients complained of anal pain and one experienced dizziness postprocedure for a complication rate of 1.1 percent. CONCLUSIONS: We present a simple, cost-effective, and well-tolerated method of controlling hemorrhagic radiation proctitis. It is performed by using materials readily available in the office of a colon and rectal surgeon, eliminating the need for bowel preparation, anesthesia, or a surgical suite.

Administration, Rectal↗

Complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer does not influence survival.

BACKGROUND: Up to 30% of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer have a complete clinical or pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. This study analyzes complete clinical and pathologic responders among a large group of rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation. METHODS: From 1987 to 2000, 141 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven, locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiation. Clinical restaging after treatment consisted of proctoscopic examination and often computed tomography scan. One hundred forty patients then underwent operative resection, with results tracked in a database. Standard statistical methods were used to examine the outcomes of those patients with complete clinical or pathologic responses. RESULTS: No demographic differences were detected between either clinical complete and clinical partial responders or pathologic complete and pathologic partial responders. The positive predictive value of clinical restaging was 60%, and accuracy was 82%. By use of the Kaplan-Meier life table analysis, clinical complete responders had no advantage in local recurrence, disease-free survival, or overall survival rates when compared with clinical partial responders. Pathologic complete responders also had no recurrence or survival advantage when compared with pathologic partial responders. Of the 34 pathologic T0 tumors, 4 (13%) had lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical assessment of complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation is unreliable. Micrometastatic disease persists in a proportion of patients despite pathologic complete response. Observation or local excision for patients thought to be complete responders should be undertaken with caution.

Aged↗

Surgical treatment of radiation injuries of the colon and rectum.

Between 1950 and 1983, radiation-induced proctitis was diagnosed proctoscopically in 720 patients at the Mayo Clinic. Sixty-two patients with severe colorectal symptoms were treated surgically. The interval from cessation of radiotherapy to onset of symptoms ranged from 3 weeks to 24 months (mean 33 months). The 62 patients underwent a total of 143 operations with 8 operative deaths (13 percent), and 40 patients (65 percent) had 61 complications. The morbidity rate was lower after colostomy alone (44 percent in 27 patients) than after more aggressive operations (80 percent in 35 patients). Transverse loop colostomy and descending colostomy were safer than sigmoid colostomy. The dissection adhesions, opening of tissue planes, and careless manipulation of intestine may result in necrosis and perforation of the intestine, bladder, or vaginal wall; these were the main causes of fecal and other internal fistulas in our study.

Cecum↗

Carcinoma of the anal region.

Preservation of anorectal function makes chemoradiotherapy attractive as the primary treatment in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal region. Despite variations in techniques of chemoradiotherapy administration, the accumulated experience of a number of institutions indicates substantial improvement over previous approaches, which included surgery or radiation therapy individually. Although no longer providing the definitive therapeutic role in this disease, the surgeon is frequently asked to evaluate lesions suspected of being anal malignancies. In addition, it is the surgeon who most often performs the diagnostic biopsy, consults on local complications of chemoradiotherapy, and manages complications of local recurrence. In this context, optimal care includes early organization of the medical oncologist, radiation therapist, and surgeon to participate in the initial diagnostic evaluations, examinations with the patient under anesthesia, and follow-up during therapy. A complete response is often not evident until 2 to 3 months after treatment. We recommend a follow-up schedule of monthly visits for the first 6 months, examinations every 3 months for the next 2 years, and assessment every 6 months thereafter. Evaluation during early routine visits includes manual and proctoscopic examination of the perineum and rectum and review of the hemogram and liver enzyme levels in the serum. CT, MRI, or lower endoscopy procedures are performed only if clinical examination or studies suggest the possibility of recurrence or a second primary tumor. Patients with an incomplete response to therapy after 3 months often undergo examination under anesthesia with biopsy of suspect areas. Chronic inflammatory changes in the area of previous carcinoma may be interpreted as persistent disease. Thus histologic proof of recurrent malignancy must be obtained before considering surgical or chemoradiotherapy salvage treatment.

Anus Neoplasms↗

Circadian rhythm of cellular proliferation in the human rectal mucosa.

Circadian rhythms of DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation in the gastrointestinal mucosa have been well documented in animal models. This investigation was designed to determine whether similar rhythms could be demonstrated in the human rectal epithelium: 24 studies were performed in 16 healthy men under fasting (n = 14) and fed (n = 10) conditions. Rectal mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained through a proctoscope every 2 or 3 hours for a 24-hour span. Ex vivo measurements of tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA were made on the mucosal samples. Feeding and time of day were each found to have an effect on the rate of thymidine incorporation into the DNA of rectal mucosal cells. Both fasted and fed subjects showed significant circadian rhythms in thymidine incorporation, which peaked at about 7 AM. Fasting lowered the overall mean thymidine uptake without altering the rhythm. Thymidine uptake generally reflects the amount of DNA synthesis in the sampled tissue. Therefore, these data may be important in the design of cancer chemotherapeutic regimens that use drugs specifically active during DNA synthesis.

Adult↗

Symptomatic hemorrhoids and anorectal varices in children with portal hypertension.

There have been few reports of the anorectal problems encountered in children with portal hypertension. We report the incidence of anorectal symptoms in a retrospective study of 189 children treated by injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices secondary to portal hypertension. Anorectal symptoms, proctoscopic findings and treatment have been recorded in this group. The incidence of symptomatic hemorrhoids and rectal varices was 4.2%. Hemorrhoids are rare in children and the increased incidence can be assumed to be secondary to portal hypertension. Treatment is advised only for symptomatic patients and injection sclerotherapy is satisfactory for the majority.

Child↗

Perforation of the rectum by a Copper-T intra-uterine contraceptive device; a case report.

A case of a rare complication of a Copper-T intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) producing uterine and rectal perforation is reported. The patient presented with the threads of the IUCD protruding through the anus and the device was removed from the rectum using a proctoscope. A review of the literature revealed only seven cases of perforation of the rectosigmoid by an IUCD in which the device was removed per rectum, and this report documents the first of such cases involving a Copper-T. Proctosigmoidoscopic evaluation is recommended whenever perforation of the rectosigmoid by an IUCD is suspected, since it may select those patients for whom rectal recovery of the IUCD is feasible, thus avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention.

Adult↗

Frequency and significance of chronic ulcerative colitis in severe corticosteroid-treated autoimmune hepatitis.

To assess the prevalence and significance of chronic ulcerative colitis in patients with severe autoimmune hepatitis and to determine the frequency of cholangiographic and histologic features of primary sclerosing cholangitis in those with colitis, 105 patients who had been screened by annual proctoscopic examination were studied. Patients with features of colitis were compared to counterparts without colitis who had been matched by age, sex, disease severity and treatment regimen. Seventeen patients (16%) had findings of chronic ulcerative colitis. Twelve of these underwent cholangiography and five (42%) had features of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Patients with and without cholangiographic abnormalities were indistinguishable by clinical, laboratory, immunoserologic, and histologic features. Fibrous obliterative cholangitis was present in only two patients, including one with normal cholangiography. Patients with colitis entered remission less frequently (59 vs. 94%, p less than 0.05), failed treatment more commonly (41 vs. 6%, p less than 0.05) and progressed to cirrhosis more frequently (75 vs. 25%, p less than 0.05) than counterparts without colitis. Patients with colitis but normal cholangiography, however, responded satisfactorily to therapy. We conclude that chronic ulcerative colitis can coexist with severe autoimmune hepatitis in the absence of primary sclerosing cholangitis or hepatitis C infection. Under such circumstances its presence does not adversely influence treatment outcome. Primary sclerosing cholangitis cannot be excluded by routine examinations and its presence is associated with a poor treatment response. Cholangiography should be considered in all patients with autoimmune hepatitis and colitis, especially in those recalcitrant to therapy.

Adult↗

An endocavitary rectal irradiation technique.

An alternative to standard short target-skin distance (TSD) rectal irradiation techniques is presented. The proctoscopic rectal cone is linked outside of the patient to a superficial X ray tube operated at 50 kVp and 25 mA. The cone is rigidly held in place by a hydraulic clamp and linked to the X ray tube with an electromagnetic lock. The X ray beam is filtered by 0.3 mm of aluminum, giving a half-value-layer of 0.27 mm of aluminum and an exposure rate of 720 R/min. (0.186 C/kg-min.) at the treatment TSD of 22 cm. The physical aspects of the technique are described in detail.

Brachytherapy↗

Endocavitary radiotherapy of rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: This analysis was performed to evaluate the results of endocavitary radiotherapy (RT) administered for early rectal cancer at our institution. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed to determine the results of endocavitary RT regarding survival, local control, and complications. Between 1987 and 1994, 25 patients were treated with endocavitary RT for early rectal cancer. Twenty had early, low grade tumors and met the criteria for treatment with curative intent. Five had more advanced, high grade, or multiple recurrent tumors and were treated with palliative intent. The tumors were treated to between 20 and 155 Gy in one to four fractions with 50 KV x-rays given through a specialized proctoscope. Patients were followed for 5 to 84 months (median = 55 months) after therapy. Local control and survival were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Local control was achieved in 18 of the 20 patients treated with curative intent and 4 of 5 treated with palliative intent. For those patients treated with curative intent, the 5-year local control rate was 89% and the 5-year survival rate was 76%. The most significant toxicity was ulceration that occurred in 5 of the 25 patients. The ulcers were asymptomatic in three cases and associated with bleeding in one case. The fifth patient had pain. One ulcer was biopsied, resulting in perforation that was treated with an abdominal perineal resection (APR). There was no tumor found upon pathologic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Endocavitary RT can be used to treat patients with early, low-grade rectal cancers and will yield a high level of disease control and a low risk of serious complications. Major advantages of this treatment technique are that it requires neither general anesthesia nor hospitalization.

Adult↗

Modification of a superficial X-ray therapy machine for rectal contact therapy. Preliminary results.

X-ray therapy of superficial rectal cancers using a hand-held 50 kV contact unit (Philips RT-50) in a technique first described by Papillon had reached a point of widening clinical acceptability when the manufacturer of this equipment discontinued its production. To pursue this endocavitary approach to rectal therapy, technical modifications have to be made to conventional superficial x-ray therapy machines. Advantages over the original Papillon method include remote viewing of the lesion through the proctoscopic cone and a lower radiation exposure for the operator. We have evaluated a Bucky Combination Therapy Unit under conditions in which the operating voltage (65 kV), target skin distance (23.6 cm), and added filtration (0.39 mm Al) were selected in order to match as closely as possible the beam penetration characteristics of the "standard" (Papillon) technique. With this equipment, the thermal characteristics of the tube anode and housing limit the amount of radiation that can be delivered before a "rest period" for the machine is needed. In practice, 3 minutes of irradiation at an exposure rate of 500 R/min can be performed followed by an interval of 3 minutes before irradiation can be resumed.

Brachytherapy↗

Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation.

BACKGROUND: In 1995, Morinaga reported a new technique for the treatment of hemorrhoids, hemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL), which uses a specially designed proctoscope coupled with a Doppler transducer for identification and ligation of hemorrhoidal arteries. METHODS: Because the arteries carrying the blood inflow are ligated, internal pressure of the plexus hemorrhoidalis is decreased. RESULTS: We report the results of the first 308 patients (189 male and 119 female; median age 50.1 years) who have been treated at our department since 2002 and followed-up for a median period of 18 months. Eighty-nine patients had grade II, 192 patients had grade III, and 27 patients had grade IV hemorrhoids. The acute symptoms of hemorrhoids were treated immediately by performing HAL. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that HAL is painless, effective, and has a low rate of complications. It can be applied in an outpatient setting and is an good alternative to all other hemorrhoid treatment methods.

Adult↗

Sucralfate does not ameliorate acute radiation proctitis: randomised study and meta-analysis.

AIMS: During pelvic radiotherapy, many patients develop radiation-induced gastrointestinal symptoms, which may interfere with treatment. Prophylaxis during radiotherapy should ideally prevent acute reaction and the development of delayed injury. Sucralfate, an aluminium sucrose octasulphate, has been used for acute and delayed radiation side-effects. However, conflicting results have been published. We report here a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study of prophylactic sucralfate during pelvic radiotherapy. In addition, a meta-analysis of available data from the literature has been carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with localised pelvic tumours scheduled for curative conformal pelvic radiotherapy (total dose 64-70 Gy over 6.5-7 weeks in 2 Gy daily fractions) were included. Peroral sucralfate 2 g three times daily, or identically appearing placebo tablets, was given during the course of radiotherapy. Symptom registration, endoscopy and biopsies were carried out immediately before radiotherapy, 2 weeks and 6 weeks into the treatment course, and 2 weeks after completing radiotherapy. Mucosal cup forceps biopsies were obtained through a rigid proctoscope. Graded endoscopic appearance and quantitative histology were registered. RESULTS: On the basis of previously published negative reports, an unplanned interim analysis of 44 evaluable patients showed significantly increased diarrhoea in the sucralfate group and the trial was stopped. No difference was seen in other symptoms, endoscopic appearance or histology. A meta-analysis comprising five published studies showed no statistically significant beneficial effect of sucralfate on acute symptoms. CONCLUSION: Sucralfate cannot be recommended for prophylaxis of acute radiation proctopathy and may even worsen the symptoms.

Acute Disease↗

The vascular nature of hemorrhoids.

The arterial blood supply of the internal hemorrhoidal plexus is commonly believed to be associated with the pathogenesis of hemorrhoids. Ultrasound-supported proctoscopic techniques with Doppler-guided ligature of submucosal rectal arteries have been introduced for the therapy of hemorrhoids. The present investigation focuses on caliber and flow changes of the terminal branches of the superior rectal artery (SRA) supplying the corpus cavernosum recti (CCR) in patients with hemorrhoids. Forty-one outpatients (17 female, 24 male; mean age 48 years) with hemorrhoids of Goligher grades I-IV were compared with 17 healthy volunteers (nine female, eight male; mean age 29 years) by means of transperineal color Doppler ultrasound. The mean caliber of the arterial branches in the study group with hemorrhoids was 1.87 +/- 0.68 mm (range, 0.6 to 3.60 mm) and 0.92 +/- 0.15 mm (range, 0.6 to 1.2 mm) in the control group (P < 0.001). The arterial blood flow was significantly higher in patients with hemorrhoids than in the control group (mean 33.9 vs. 11.9 cm/second, P < 0.01). Our findings demonstrate that increased caliber and arterial blood flow of the terminal branches of the SRA are correlated with the appearance of hemorrhoids. We suggest that the hypervascularization of the anorectum contributes to the growth of hemorrhoids rather than being a consequence of hemorrhoids. Transperineal color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) is an appropriate method to assess these findings in patients with hemorrhoids.

Adult↗

Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis in children.

Antibiotic-associated colitis is a rare complication of antimicrobial therapy in children. Ampicillin, penicillin, and clindamycin are the drugs most frequently reported to cause pseudomembranous colitis in pediatric patients. This diagnosis should be suspected in any child with significant diarrhea during or after a course of antimicrobial therapy, especially if the diarrhea persists after the drug has been discontinued. The diagnosis is established by proctoscopic findings of typical plaques of pseudomembranes. Most cases resolve promptly when the implicated antibiotic is stopped; however, the disease can be fulminant, progressing to toxic megacolon, peritonitis, and shock. Therapy of patients who have persistent diarrhea after the offending antibiotic has been discontinued should include oral vancomycin. Close fluid management is crucial for survival.

Ampicillin↗

Traumatic rectal hematoma following anal rape.

We describe the case of a 28-year-old male prisoner with a traumatic rectal hematoma caused by anal rape. Barium enema showed a large rectal mass confirmed to be a hematoma by proctoscopic examination. Surgery was performed due to a falling hemoglobin level, and an 800-mL hematoma was evacuated. The patient became febrile following surgery, and computed tomography revealed a pelvic mass consistent with recurrent hematoma or abscess. Repeat surgery showed recurrent hematoma. The patient recovered uneventfully.

Adult↗

Clinical trial of endorectal amifostine for radioprotection in patients with prostate cancer: rationale and early results.

Tolerance of the normal rectal mucosa to radiation injury limits the dose that can be safely delivered to the prostate gland with definitive external beam radiation therapy. The radioprotective agent amifostine (Ethyol; MedImmune, Inc, Gaithersburg, MD) is approved for intravenous use. Laboratory studies indicate that rectal administration results in preferential accumulation of amifostine in the rectal mucosa, and in clinical studies, neither free parent compound nor free active metabolite has been detected in the systemic circulation. This trial evaluates the rates of early and late rectal toxicities in patients with prostate cancer receiving definitive or adjuvant three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation therapy and concurrent daily endorectal applications of amifostine. Endpoints include Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute and late toxicity gradings, Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite self-assessment questionnaires, and proctoscopic examinations with scoring of mucosal damage measured before, during, and after treatment. Eleven patients have been enrolled to date; 10 have completed radiotherapy and three have been followed-up to 6 months. Two patients received 66 Gy to the prostatic bed post-prostatectomy; five patients received 74 Gy and three received 76 Gy to the prostate gland. In all patients, daily fractionation was 2 Gy, and 1 g of amifostine (50 mg/mL in 20 mL reconstituted saline) was administered endorectally 40 minutes before radiation delivery. Daily endorectal administration was well tolerated. To date, six patients have experienced grade 2 (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) acute toxicities, all but one because of frequent bowel movements relieved by loperamide. The initial trial will proceed until 18 patients are accrued, at which time an interval evaluation of both early and late toxicity endpoints will be conducted.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Intraoperative endosonography enhances laparoscopy-assisted colon pull-through for high imperforate anus.

PURPOSE: The authors used ultrasonographic endoprobes during laparoscopy-assisted colon pull-through (LACPT) for the repair of high imperforate anus to confirm the pull-through canal was surrounded symmetrically by pelvic floor muscles. METHODS: Six patients with high imperforate anus were treated by LACPT (mean age at LACPT, 8.2 months). An endoscopic (12-MHz, 2.5-mm in diameter) and proctoscopic (7.5-MHz, 12-mm in diameter) probe were inserted into the proposed route of dissection intraoperatively to measure the thickness of the surrounding muscle tissue at at least 3 levels: the external anal sphincter, the levator ani muscle sling, and the intervening muscle complex. RESULTS: The average thickness of the external anal sphincter was 2.3 +/- 0.4 mm anteriorly, 2.4 +/- 0.4 mm on the left, 2.4 +/- 0.5 mm posteriorly, and 2.6 +/- 0.6 mm on the right. The average thickness of the muscle complex was 2.3 +/- 0.6 mm anteriorly, 2.2 +/- 0.5 mm on the left, 2.1 +/- 0.4 mm posteriorly, and 2.2 +/- 0.5 mm on the right. The average thickness of the left crus of the levator ani muscle was 1.8 +/- 0.3 mm, the right crus was 1.9 +/- 0.4 mm, and the rim located posterior to the rectum was 2.0 +/- 0.3 mm. No statistically significant difference was found between the measurements taken at each level. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative endosonography during LACPT can greatly enhance the precision of positioning the pull-through canal.

Anus, Imperforate↗