Radiation damages normal surrounding tissues as well as the intended tumor. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Spectrum of imaging findings in the abdomen after radiotherapy.
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Nov;187(5):1204-11. PMID: 17056907
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Unit 57, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to describe the imaging appearances of radiation injury to normal tissues in the abdomen that may be seen during imaging surveillance of oncology patients. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic radiation is used to treat various malignant conditions in the abdomen. Radiation damages normal surrounding tissues as well as the intended tumor. Radiation changes vary based on the target organ and the time from completion of therapy. Familiarity with the spectrum of changes that may be seen on follow-up imaging studies should help in the differentiation of radiation injury from other causes such as recurrent malignancy.