Table 2: Alteration of bowel function according to the radiotherapy technique.

 

 

No. (%)

Category

No. (%)

2D-RT

3D-CRT

IMRT

Bowel function frequency

 

 

 

 

      <3/week  

6 (9)

3 (9)

3 (14)

0

      1/day

37 (54)

14 (41)

13 (62)

10 (77)

      2-3/day

18 (27)

12 (35)

4 (19)

2 (15)

      4-5/day

5 (7)

4 (12)

1 (5)

0

      >5/day

2 (3)

1 (3)

0

1 (8)

Bowel function compared to before RT

 

 

 

 

      Same

45 (66)

21 (62)

16 (52)

8 (61)

      More frequent

19 (28)

12 (35)

3 (10)

4 (31)

      Less frequent

4 (6)

1 (3)

2 (6)

1 (8)

Diarrhoea

 

 

 

 

      Never

64 (94)

32 (94)

21 (100)

11 (84)

      1/week

1 (1)

0

0

1 (8)

      Daily

3 (5)

2 (6)

0

1 (8)

Haematochezia (last 6 months)

 

 

 

 

      Never

61 (90)

30 (88)

18 (85)

13 (100)

      1/week

3 (5)

2 (6)

1 (5)

0

      Daily

4 (5)

2 (6)

2 (10)

0

Faecal urgency

 

 

 

 

      Yes

17 (25)

10 (29)

5 (24)

2 (15)

      No

51 (75)

24 (71)

16 (76)

11 (85)

Faecal incontinence

 

 

 

 

      Yes

9 (13)

6 (18)

2 (6)

1 (8)

      No

59 (87)

28 (82)

19 (94)

12 (92)

Rectal pain

 

 

 

 

      Yes

2 (3)

1 (3)

1 (5)

0

      No

66 (97)

33 (97)

20 (95)

13 (20)

2D-RT, conventional radiotherapy; 3D-CRT, conformal radiotherapy; IMRT, intensity-modulate radiotherapy; RT, radiotherapy.