A case of ileo-cutaneou fistula due to radiation enteritis

Radiation enteritis can cause late complications including stenosis, perforation, fistulization, and bleeding, which sometimes necessitate surgical treatment, but a complication of ileocutaneous fistula is rarely reported. In this paper, an excellent result of an operation for ileocutaneous fistula due to radiation enteritis is described. A 68-year-old woman had undergone extended total histerectomy and radiation therapy on uterine cervical cancer. After the operation and the radiation therapy, frequent abdominal pain bothered her and then the intestinal fistula ensued resulted in the fistulization. The fistula was located between two stenotic lesions of the intestine caused by radiation enteritis. Resection of ileum including the two stenotic lesion and the fistula and end-to-end anastomosis relieved the symptoms and the treatment course has been satisfactory. The two stenotic lesions were resected because it was suggested that the two stenotic lesions directly led the fistulization. She is now followed asymptomatically. (author)