The Effect of Pelvic Irradiation on Ileal Function

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Abstract
Thirty-three patients with gynecological neoplasms undergoing radiotherapy to the pelvis had cholyl[1-14C]glycine breath tests to assess ileal function. Breath tests were performed on each patient in the 1st and 5th wk of treatment and 19 of the patients had a 3rd test 3 mo. posttreatment. In the 1st test, 29.9 .+-. 16.8% (mean .+-. SD) of the administered dose was excreted in breath 14C in 24 h. This rose to 47.3 .+-. 15.9% (t = 6.08; P < .001) in the 5th wk and fell to 36.3 .+-. 16% (t = 2.29; P < .05) at 3 mo. posttreatment. Eight patients had breath tests performed 1 yr posttreatment and the test percentages were 32.7 .+-. 7.8% (t = 1.19; .PI. > .10). The increase in 14CO2 excretion in the 5th wk of treatment occurred at a time when most patients were having diarrhea. The data suggest that bile acid malabsorption due to ileal dysfunction may be a factor in radiation induced diarrhea which occurs in nearly all patients during pelvic irradiation.