DELAYED GASTRO-INTESTINAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER COMBINED MODALITY THERAPY OF CHILDHOOD RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

Delayed gastrointestinal complications were reviewed following combined modality therapy in 16 children with non-disseminated rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) involving the retroperitoneum. Six patients experienced severe life-threatening enteritis or proctitis which was documented histologically and occurred in the absence of recurrent tumor; 3 patients subsequently died of small bowel obstruction and attendant complications. These results emphasize a major form of treatment morbidity resulting from the combined use of multiple radiopotentiating agents and therapeutic irradiation of the gastrointestinal tract. © 1979.