Clinical features associated with radiation-induced gastritis in cirrhosis

Abstract

Radiation-induced gastritis is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features associated with radiation-induced gastritis in cirrhosis treated with radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiation-induced gastritis was observed in 6 of 12 patients showing endoscopic findings of diffuse antral vascular ectasia and correlated significantly with radiation therapy for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in abdominal lymph nodes. Argon plasma coagulation was performed in 4 patients with radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis and 3 patients with radiation therapy for abdominal lymph nodes showed refractory radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis. We suggest that radiation therapy for abdominal lymph nodes in cirrhosis could be associated with refractory radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis.