Table 1.
Example of some gastrointestinal symptoms grades following radiation injury
Grade | Gastrointestinal symptoms |
Nausea | |
1 | Loss of appetite without alteration in eating habits |
2 | Oral intake decreased without significant weight loss, dehydration or malnutrition; IV fluids indicated < 24 h |
3 | Inadequate oral caloric or fluid intake; IV fluids, tube feedings, or TPN indicated ≥ 24 h |
4 | Life-threatening consequences |
5 | Death |
Anorexia | |
1 | Loss of appetite without alteration in eating habits |
2 | Oral intake altered without significant weight loss or malnutrition; oral nutritional supplements indicated |
3 | Associated with significant weight loss or malnutrition (e.g., inadequate oral caloric and/or fluid intake); IV fluids, tube feedings or TPN indicated |
4 | Life-threatening consequences |
5 | Death |
Haemorrhage-GI | |
1 | Mild, intervention (other than iron supplements) not indicated |
2 | Symptomatic and medical intervention or minor cauterization indicated |
3 | Transfusion, interventional radiology, endoscopic, or operative intervention indicated; radiation therapy (i.e., hemostasis of bleeding site) |
4 | Life-threatening consequences; major urgent intervention indicated |
5 | Death |
Ulceration-GI | |
1 | Asymptomatic, radiographic or endoscopic findings only |
2 | Symptomatic; altered GI function (e.g., altered dietary habits, oral supplements); IV fluids indicated < 24 h |
3 | Symptomatic and severely altered GI function (e.g., inadequate oral caloric or fluid intake); IV fluids, tube feedings, or TPN indicated ≥ 24 h |
4 | Life-threatening consequences |
5 | Death |
Incontinence anal | |
1 | Occasional use of pads required |
2 | Daily use of pads required |
3 | Interfering with ADL; operative intervention indicated |
4 | Permanent bowel diversion indicated |
5 | Death |
According to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events system v 3.0. IV: Intravenous; GI: Gastrointestinal; ADL: Activities of daily living; TPN: Total parenteral nutrition.