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Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2006; 12(27): 4411-4415
Published online Jul 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i27.4411
Endoscopic scoring of late gastrointestinal mucosal damage after adjuvant radiochemotherapy
Resat Dabak, Oya Uygur-Bayramicli, Cengiz Gemici, Dilek Yavuzer, Mehmet Sargin, Mehmet Yildirim
Resat Dabak, Mehmet Sargin, Department of Family Medicine, Kartal State Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul, Turkey
Oya Uygur-Bayramicli, Department of Gastroenterology, Kartal State Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul, Turkey
Cengiz Gemici, Department of Radiation Oncology, Kartal State Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul, Turkey
Dilek Yavuzer, Department of Pathology, Kartal State Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Yildirim, Department of General Surgery, Kartal State Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul, Turkey
Correspondence to: Oya Uygur-Bayramicli, Altunizade Mah. Atıf bey Sok., Çamlık Sitesi II. Kısım A blok, No 53/17 34060 Üsküdar-Istanbul, Turkey. bayramicli@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-216-5414318 Fax: +90-216-5414318
Received: November 29, 2005
Revised: November 30, 2005
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: July 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate late effects of chemoradiation on gastrointestinal mucosa with an endoscopic scoring system and compare it to a clinical scoring system.

METHODS: Twenty-four patients going to receive chemoradiation after gastric surgery underwent endoscopy four wk after surgery and one year after the chemoradiation finished. Upper gastrointestinal findings were recorded according to a system proposed by World Organisation for Digestive Endoscopy (OMED) and clinical scoring was done with RTOG-EORTC radiation morbidity scoring systems.

RESULTS: There was no significant endoscopic difference in gastric and intestinal mucosa after chemoradiation (P > 0.05) and there was no association between endoscopic scores and clinical scores. Endoscopic changes were minimal.

CONCLUSION: Late effects after chemoradiation in operated patients with gastric cancers can be evaluated with an endoscopic scoring system objectively and this system is superior to clinical scoring systems.

Keywords: Radiochemotherapy, Gastric cancer, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal mucositis