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Intestinal lymphangiectasia secondary to radiotherapy and chemotherapy

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Summary

We report a case of intestinal lymphangiectasia secondary to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patient also had small bowel bacterial overgrowth and pancreatic insufficiency. Lymphatic ectasia as a histological feature has been described previously in association with postradiotherapy malabsorption, but radiation-induced lymphangiectasia producing clinical manifestations has hitherto not been reported.

Replacement of dietary long-chain fats with medium-chain triglycerides, pancreatic enzyme supplements, and a short course of oxytetracycline, resulted in dramatic clinical improvement.

The possibility of intestinal lymphangiectasia should be borne in mind in patients with postradiotherapy malabsorption. A low serum albumin and lymphocyte count should draw attention to this possibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Unit, and University Department of Pathology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK

    S. S. C. Rao MRCP (UK), S. Dundas MRC Path & C. D. Holdsworth FRCP

Authors
  1. S. S. C. Rao MRCP (UK)
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  2. S. Dundas MRC Path
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  3. C. D. Holdsworth FRCP
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Rao, S.S.C., Dundas, S. & Holdsworth, C.D. Intestinal lymphangiectasia secondary to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Digest Dis Sci 32, 939–942 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296718

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296718

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