Radiation colitis

Radiation colitis is inflammation of the colon due to radiation.

General

• Diagnosis should be supported by clinical history.

Cause of colitides:

• IBD.
• Infection.
• Ischemia.
• Radiation.

Gross

• Superficial bowel wall injury - shallow ulceration.

Microscopic

Features - acute:

• Mucosal changes:
  • Necrosis of epithelium.
    • "Ghost cells" = cells without nuclei.
  • Hemorrhage.
• Submucosa edema with neutrophilic infiltrate.
• +/-Fibrin thrombi.

DDx:

• Ischemic colitis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Infectious colitis.

Image:

• Radiation colitis - rat model (bmj.com).

See also

• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Colon.