14C-lactose breath tests during pelvic radiotherapy: the effect of the amount of small bowel irradiated.

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Abstract
Thirty patients who were undergoing pelvic radiotherapy [for pelvic cancer] had 14C-lactose breath tests performed in the 1st and 5th wk of treatment. In group I (21 patients), a significant portion of the small intestine was irradiated; in group II (9 patients), only a small portion of the small intestine was irradiated. In group I, the average reductions in the excretion of ingested 14C between the 1st and 5th wk tests were 41.5% at 1/2 h postingestion (P < 0.05) and 21.8% at 1 h postingestion (P < 0.05). In group II, the percentage reductions were 11.8% and 3.7% at 1/2 and 1 h, respectively (P > 0.05). Lactose malabsorption probably is a factor in the etiology of the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea experienced by patients who are undergoing pelvic radiotherapy; the amount of bowel included in the treatment volume probably significantly influences the degree of malabsorption.

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