Actinic cystitis: causes, treatment and experience of a single centre in the last five years

Actinic cystitis (AC) is the manifestation of symptoms and signs following pelvic radiotherapy. Pelvic radiotherapy produces both acute and chronic damage and such damage may have a devastating impact on the quality and on the amount of life of the patient.

To evaluate the number of radical cystectomies that have become necessary in the last five years in our department for AC after radiation treatment.

From February 2012 to February 2017, 11 patients underwent "open" cystectomy for AC. All patients were studied with radiographic examinations and endoscopy prior to surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the type of primitive cancer, the radiation dose administered, the time between radiation treatment and cystectomy. We also studied the related symptoms that required surgery.

The mean age of patients at the time of cystectomy was 75 years. In six patients (54.4%) radiotherapy was performed for prostate cancer, for rectal cancer in two patients (18.1%), and for endometrial cancer in three patients (27.2%). Total radiant dose was different in different patients depending on the type and localization of cancer. The median time between radiotherapy and cystectomy was 111 months (24-256 months). All patients had symptoms before surgery. Seven patients (63.3%) with gross haematuria were treated with endoscopic clot evacuation and fulguration.

The first approach to patients with AC is often supportive care. Surgery remains the most invasive treatment in the management of those patients who are not responsive to conservative treatments.