According to the expert consensus of the radioactive rectal injury (2021 edition), the clinical characteristics of different clinical types of patients with radiation-induced late rectal injury (RLRI) were described, the differences in complications among different clinical types were analyzed, and the clinical treatment methods and therapeutic effects of different types of patients were compared.

The clinical data of 85 patients with RLRI who were hospitalized in the Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2020 to December 2020 were retrospectively summarized. The differences of clinical data characteristics, treatment methods, treatment effects, complications (including fistula, stenosis, obstruction, perforation, etc.) among different clinical types were analyzed.

Among 85 patients with RLRI, there were 29 cases of telangiectasia, twelve cases of ulceration, four cases of stenosis and 40 cases of mixed. There were statistical differences in age, BMI, RTOG/EORTC score, VRS score and serum albumin in patients with different clinical types of RLRI (P<0.05). The complications of different clinical types were significantly different (Z=-5.066, P< 0.001). There was no significant difference in treatments and therapeutic effect among different clinical types (χ²=3.021, P=0.388; χ²=0.299, P=0.861).

Clinical data such as age, BMI, albumin, RTOG/EORTC score and VRS score were different in patients with RLRI of different types, and patients with clinical classification of telangiectasia had a higher probability of complications, suggesting the importance of early intervention and personalized step-up treatment, which is worthy of reference by clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment process.