Role of oncologic radiotherapy in multidisciplinary team treatment of malignant acute abdomen / 中华胃肠外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Malignant acute abdomen is a emergency with abrupt onset, rapid progress and often a complex etiology, presenting difficulties for treatment and high mortality. Therefore, multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment modality is required. Compared with single-discipline diagnosis and treatment modality, diagnosis made from MDT discussion is more accurate, where specialists can improve efficiency and quality of the treatment through better communication. A good MDT can cover all stages from the diagnosis to the assessment and treatment of the disease, and combine them into a more coherent process. This article discusses the development of radiotherapy-related malignant acute abdomen and the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant acute abdomen from the perspective of oncologic radiotherapy. Common causes of radiotherapy-related acute abdomen from gastric cancer include gastric hemorrhage, upper gastrointestinal obstruction and gastric perforation, while those of radiotherapy-related acute abdomen from colorectal cancer include lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation and intestinal fistula. For patients with acute bleeding from gastric cancer that can not be treated by surgery, endoscopic hemostasis or embolization, palliative radiotherapy should be considered. Palliative hypofractionated radiotherapy has the advantage of reducing tumor burden in addition to relieving symptoms of gastric cancer. In patients with acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, as relatively few studies have been established, short course of hypofractionated radiotherapy can be selectively applied. For patients with obstruction, palliative radiotherapy may be considered when surgical assessment is not feasible or tolerable. As malignant acute abdomen has rapid onset and progress, complex etiology and high rate of comorbidity MDT should be fully carried out. For patients with mild symptoms and slow development, radiotherapy can be applied with caution. Emergency treatment such as surgery and intervention should be given when necessary. Passive observation can result in missing the treatment opportunity and should be avoided.