Transverse colon conduit: a preferred method of urinary diversion for radiation-treated pelvic malignancies.

In the management of pelvic malignancies treated by radiation the standard ileal conduit is subject to many hazards related to the use of damaged tissues. The transverse colon affords the use of a short isolated segment of non-irradiated bowel as a urinary conduit. The ureters can be dissected well above the field of pelvic irradiation. Eight patients with bladder or cervical carcinoma treated with high doses of external radiotherapy are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the transverse colon in supravesical urinary diversions.