Recurrent haematochezia in an 85-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma

An 85-year-old man with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis secondary to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis presented to casualty with four days of painless haematochezia with dark blood without haemodynamic compromise. This was in the setting of receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as treatment for his hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).He was found to have haemorrhagic radiation colitis which was treated with argon plasma coagulation (APC). Our case demonstrates the importance of considering radiation induced colitis as a cause for painless lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with a background of radiation therapy for HCC. Earlier review of the imaging and consideration of this differential could have prevented the need for repeat hospitalisations and would have led to prompt colonoscopy and diagnosis.