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An 86-year-old man received a diagnosis of stage IV adenocarcinoma of the rectum, with metastatic disease noted below the aortic bifurcation. He had no history of inflammatory bowel disease. He was treated with 4500 cGy of radiation delivered to the whole pelvis in 25 fractions by means of a four-field box technique, in conjunction with fluorouracil and folic acid. Five weeks after the initiation of the radiotherapy, severe diarrhea developed, increasing to 11 episodes per day. No infectious pathogens were found. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed diffuse bowel changes that involved most of the ileum (Panels A and B, . . . [Full Text of this Article] |
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