Therapeutic options for radiation-induced rectal bleeding
| Treatment modality | Comments |
| Medical therapies | |
| Sucralfate enemas | 1 RCT,101 several case series |
| Metronidazole | 1 RCT102 used for 4 weeks in combination with corticosteroids and mesalazine (these last two agents probably ineffective if used alone). Possibly contraindicated if patient has already developed chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy |
| Vitamin A (retinol palmitate) | 1 small RCT103 and no endoscopic assessment performed |
| Sulfasalazine | Case series |
| Thalidomide | Case report |
| Short chain fatty acids | Inconclusive RCT115 |
| Rebampide enema therapy | Case series (not available in the UK) |
| Other therapies | |
| Hyperbaric oxygen treatment | I RCT,42 several case series |
| Endoscopic laser ablation | Multiple case series, different lasers used. |
| Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation | Multiple case series, serious complication rate 7-26% |
| Endoscopic formalin application | Multiple case series, outcomes poorly assessed |
| Surgical application of formalin | Multiple case series, outcomes poorly assessed |
Other references.6 7 116
RCT, randomised controlled trial.