Utility of Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation in the Treatment of Radiation Proctitis

nation revealed bleeding from proctitis in the rectum. He was diagnosed as having radiation proctitis following radiation therapy for prostatic carcinoma. Because conservative medical therapy failed, argon plasma coagulation (APC) was performed giving successful endoscopic hemostasis without complications ( fig. 1 ). The proctitis-mediated bleeding was effectively controlled after a single APC treatment session. Dear Sir, Radiation proctitis is a complication of radiation therapy for malignant pelvic diseases. Rectal bleeding occurs in 6–8% of these patients, and recurrent rectal bleeding caused by severe radiation proctitis is often difficult to manage. A 71-year-old man, who had received radiation therapy for prostatic carcinoma 6 month previously, was admitted to our hospital complaining of recurrent bloody stools. A subsequent colonoscopic examiPublished online: August 8, 2007