Intrarectal formalin application, an effective treatment for grade III haemorrhagic radiation proctitis

Haemorrhagic radiation proctitis (HRP) is infrequently seen amongst the patients who are either undergoing or have undergone radiotherapy to the pelvis. We treated 16 documented cases of HRP, who did not respond to conventional steroid retention enemas, with 4% formalin application. It was observed that the rectal bleeding was controlled completely in 81% cases in median follow up of 11 months (range 6-17 months) and diversion colostomy could be avoided in all the cases. The effectiveness of local formalin application in severe HRP is described in this article.