Histological assessment of radiotherapy-induced injury in the anal canal: an exploratory study

Radiotherapy appears to induce notable structural alterations within the anal sphincter complex, including muscle atrophy and oedema, which may contribute to post-treatment faecal incontinence. These changes seem independent of collagen fibre composition. Despite the small sample size and lack of clinical data, this study provides preliminary histological insights that warrant further investigation in larger, clinically integrated cohorts.