Review Article

A Narrative Review on the Pathophysiology and Management for Radiation Cystitis

Table 1

The proposed pathophysiology of radiation cystitis [1, 9, 10].

Anatomical location in bladderThe proposed mechanism of radiation damage

Urothelium Nuclear irregularity
Cellular oedema
Increased cytoplasmic elements
Disruption of tight junctions & polysaccharide layer

VasculatureVascular endothelial cell oedema
Endothelial cell proliferation
Perivascular fibrosis

MuscleSmooth muscle oedema
Replacement of smooth muscle with fibroblasts
Increased collagen deposition
Vascular ischaemia of bladder wall