Radiation-recall enteritis after actinomycin-D and adriamycin therapy.

A 22-year-old man developed four episodes of bowel obstruction after radiation therapy for a testicular tumor metastatic to retroperitoneal nodes. Each episode followed a course of chemotherapy with actinomycin-D or adriamycin. On one occasion bowel resection was required and revealed vascular changes compatible with radiation injury. The case appears to be an example of radiation recall injury involving the small bowel. The decision to use actinomycin-D or adriamycin must be weighed against the risk of tissue injury when a predisposition to radiation damage is present.