1. ¹Center for Cancer Treatment, Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2RN, UK
2. ²Medicine & Therapeutics [Division of Medicine], Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK
3. ³Chelsea & Westminster & Royal Marsden Hospitals, London, UK
4. ⁴St Mark's Hospital, Northwick Park, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK

Correspondence: Dr EJ Maher, E-mail: jane.maher@mvh-ljmc.org

Received 8 November 2001; Revised 3 April 2002; Accepted 12 April 2002.

Abstract

Chronic radiation proctitis produces a range of clinical symptoms for which there is currently no recommended standard management. The aim of this review was to identify the various non-surgical treatment options for the management of late chronic radiation proctitis and evaluate the evidence for their efficacy. Synonyms for radiation therapy and for the spectrum of lower gastrointestinal radiation toxicity were combined in an extensive search strategy and applied to a range of databases. The included studies were those that involved interventions for the non-surgical management of late radiation proctitis. Sixty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria, including six randomised controlled trials that described the effects of anti-inflammatory agents in combination, rectal steroids alone, rectal sucralfate, short chain fatty acid enemas and different types of thermal therapy. However, these studies could not be compared. If the management of late radiation proctitis is to become evidence based, then, in view of its episodic and variable nature, placebo controlled studies need to be conducted to clarify which therapeutic options should be recommended. From the current data, although certain interventions look promising and may be effective, one small or modest sized study, even if well-conducted, is insufficient to implement changes in practice. In order to increase recruitment to trials, a national register of cases with established late radiation toxicity would facilitate multi-centre trials with specific entry criteria, formal baseline and therapeutic assessments providing standardised outcome data.