Radiation Colitis of the Hepatic Flexure: A Rare Complication of Radiotherapy for Portal Vein Thrombosis Associated with Hepatoma

Abstract

Radiation colitis is a common side effect of radiotherapy for cervical, bladder, prostate and ovarian cancer, and the rectosigmoid colon is the most commonly involved anatomical area. Here, we report a rare case of radiation colitis, involving the transverse colon, following radiotherapy for portal vein thrombosis associated with hepatoma. The patient presented with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Successful endoscopic therapy with argon plasma coagulation resulted in hemostasis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of this rare complication in the literature.