Bilateral carotid aneurysms secondary to radiation therapy

A patient was seen with symptomatic, rapidly expanding aneurysms that developed in both carotid arteries 4 years after bilateral radiation to the neck, left combined mandibular resection, and radical neck dissection. The presenting symptoms were pain and transient ischemic attacks of cerebrovascular insufficiency. The aneurysms were treated uneventfully be resection and vein-graft replacement at 15-day intervals. Microscopy demonstrated typical radiation changes. Effects of radiation on arteries are reviewed.