Based on the duration of symptoms, radiation proctitis may be classified as either acute or chronic.

Based on the duration of symptoms, radiation proctitis may be classified as either acute or chronic in relation to the radiation treatment as well as the presenting symptoms and signs.^[1]

Acute radiaition proctitis usually occurs within six weeks of radiation treatment.It is a self limiting condition that resolves after discontinuation of the treatment and doesn’t increases the risk of the chronic proctitis.It presents with the symptoms of diarrhea, tenesmus, nausea, cramps, urgency and sometimes minor bleeding requiring to interrupt the treatment.^[1]

Symptoms may begin as early as several months after therapy but occasionally not until several years later. These symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, painful defecation, and intestinal obstruction. Intestinal blockage is a result of narrowing of the rectum which blocks the flow of feces due to stricture and results in symptoms in the form of constipation, rectal pain, urgency, and rarely fecal incontinence due to overflow. Connections fistulae may also develop between the colon and other parts of the body such as the skin or urinary system. Injury to the nearby organs can lead to cystitis, urethral stenosis, small bowel obstruction and small bowel bacterial overgrowth.^[2]