Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal
cancer. When IBD patients develop a rectal cancer, this should be treated with the
same oncological principles and guidelines as the general population. Rectal cancer
treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy (RT). Many IBD patients
will require a total proctocolectomy with an ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) and
others, restoration of intestinal continuity may not be feasible or advisable. The
literature is scarce regarding outcomes of IPAA after RT. In the present review, we
will summarize the evidence regarding RT toxicity in IBD patients and review surgical
strategies and outcomes of IPAA after RT.
Keywords
inflammatory bowel disease - rectal cancer - ileal pouch-anal anastomosis - radiation
therapy - functional outcomes