Abstract
Urgency, urge incontinence and sometimes life-threatening repetitive hematuria are well known delayed complications of pelvic radiation therapy for urological or gynecological malignancies. The treatment of this condition, known as radiation cystitis, has often proved to be frustrating for both patient and doctor. Pathogenesis, clinical symptoms and therapeutic options are discussed and the literature is reviewed. Guidelines are formulated to allow for a balanced choice to be made between available treatments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy proves to be a good form of therapy in selected cases. The success rate is 85%. Moreover, this treatment seems capable of improving the diseased bladder mucosa, whereas other therapies merely cauterize bleeding vessels.
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Noordzij, J.W., Dabhoiwala, N.F. Hemorrhagic radiation cystitis. Int Urogynecol J 4, 160–167 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00571627
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00571627