Prediction of radiation-related small-bowel damage.

In order to predict which patients have a high risk for radiation-related small-bowel damage, the concept of the dose-response curve was applied to the predisposing factors (number of previous laparotomies, extent of surgery, thin physique, hypertension, age, cancer stage, number of treatment days, fractionation, and weight change during radiotherapy) present in 92 patients receiving identical radiation doses and volumes. This analysis allows an estimate of the probability of complications to be assigned to individual patients. The utility and limitations of the dose-response concept are discussed.