Diarrhoea in irradiated patients: a prospective multicentre observational study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Therapy
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Diarrhea is a common side effect of cancer treatment, impacting patient quality of life.
• Understanding the incidence and risk factors for radiation-induced diarrhea is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of cancer treatment-induced diarrhea in patients undergoing irradiation.
• To identify predictors of diarrhea development during and after radiotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 1020 patients across 45 Italian radiation oncology departments.
• Daily diary cards recorded diarrhea onset and intensity during and one week post-radiotherapy.
• Multivariate analysis identified significant predictors of diarrhea.

Main Results:

• 14.6% of 1004 eligible patients experienced diarrhea.
• Significant predictors included primitive tumor site, therapeutic purpose (curative intent), and radiation field size.
• 56.2% of patients with diarrhea received medication.

Conclusions:

• Patients with abdominal-pelvic cancer receiving curative radiotherapy with large fields are at high risk.
• Diarrhea incidence necessitates more stringent monitoring protocols for at-risk patient groups.
• Further research may explore targeted interventions to mitigate this side effect.