ABSTRACT
1. Studies were made on the physiological effects of external pelvic radiation among groups of patients with primary carcinoma of the cervix of variable stages. All of this investigative work as done before and immediately after irradiation, with each patient receiving an average total tumor dose of 5700 r. given for a period of 5-6 weeks2. All of the patients suffered some gastro-intestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, the latter being a prominent feature in each case3. There is marked impairment of glucose absorption from the G.I. tract4. There is an increase in fecal water and fat5. There is a decrease in the free HCL in 14 of the 18 patients studied6. Occult blood and sugar in the stools were negative in all of the patients with no significant change of pH in each case7. The excretion of radioactive urokon from the G.I. tract is increased8. In the 3-4 months follow-up post treatment, there is tendency of the oral glucose tolerance curve to reach the pre-radiation treatment levels. (Summary)