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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2025; 13: a26051079
DOI: 10.1055/a-2605-1079
Original article

Radiofrequency ablation: Solution for a long-time therapeutic dilemma of chronic radiation proctitis?

Authors

  • Katharina Esswein 

    1   Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27280)

  • Marijana Ninkovic

    1   Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27280)

  • Veronika Kröpfl

    1   Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27280)

  • Elisabeth Gasser

    1   Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27280)

  • Christoph Profanter

    1   Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria (Ringgold ID: RIN27280)
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Abstract

Background and study aims

Chronic radiation proctitis is a prevalent condition following pelvic radiation therapy, occasionally leading to significant blood loss. Although medical treatment and argon plasma coagulation (APC) are well-established options, endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging treatment that has shown promising results in smaller studies. However, further research, particularly on long-term outcomes, is necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome of endoscopic RFA in patients with chronic radiation proctitis, with a particular focus on long-term outcome.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study included all patients treated with RFA for radiation-induced chronic proctitis suffering from hematochezia at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, between 2018 and 2023.

Results

Thirteen patients were included in the study, with RFA being the initial treatment in five cases. RFA sessions were performed once in nine patients, twice in three patients, and three times in one patient. After a median follow-up period of 58 months, 69.2% (n= 9) remained still symptom-free and 30.8% (n= 4) reported only mild rectal bleeding after hard stools.

Conclusions

These data indicate that RFA is a highly effective and safe treatment option for chronic radiation proctitis, providing excellent long-term results.

Keywords

Endoscopy Lower GI Tract - Lower GI bleeding - Endoscopy Upper GI Tract - RFA and ablative methods - GI Pathology


Publication History

Received: 02 September 2024

Accepted after revision: 07 December 2024

Article published online:
17 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Bibliographical Record
Katharina Esswein, Marijana Ninkovic, Veronika Kröpfl, Elisabeth Gasser, Christoph Profanter. Radiofrequency ablation: Solution for a long-time therapeutic dilemma of chronic radiation proctitis?. Endosc Int Open 2025; 13: a26051079.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2605-1079
 

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