Bowel obstruction secondary to radiation enteritis: A case report

Abstract

Radiation enteritis or actinic enteritis is a complication secondary to the use of radiotherapy to treat pelvic tumors, which can more frequently affect the small intestine (mainly ileum) and the colon. Surgery in patients with chronic radiation enteritis should be reserved in the presence of complications, since it is related to high morbidity and prolonged hospital stay, as well as the possibility of reoperation. We present the case of a patient with intestinal occlusion secondary to radiation enteritis who developed years after the conclusion of her treatment due to cervical cancer, with the objective that this disease has to be suspected in patients with history of radiation.