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Radiation Oncology • Genitourinary Cancers
When is it safe for a rectal biopsy in a patient with prior prostate radiation?
Is the patient permanently at elevated risk for rectourethral fistula with rectal biopsy? Do you have any threshold for the GI to biopsy a rectal lesion (e.g. not just telangiectasias in the anterior rectum, but truly suspicious rectal neoplasm).
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
A biopsy of rectal tissue that has been radiated will have a higher risk of developing non-healing wounds and ulcers. Part of the reason that biopsies are discouraged as well as radiation proctitis is a clinical diagnosis and that biopsies of proctitis are certainly not needed to confirm this. Recta...
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Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
No. You need a really good reason which would be unlikely.