[Radiation-induced damage to the large arteries]

The extracranial arteries of 28 irradiated patients with malignant tumors of the head and neck were examined by continous wave (CW) Dopplersonography and duplex-scan. The results were compared with those obtained from 556 healthy people of the same average age. The mean period between irradiation and examination was 7.3 years. Dopplersonography revealed stenoses or occlusions of the extracranial arteries in 9.1% of normal persons. In the group of irradiated patients 21% had stenoses or occlusions of the extracranial arteries. The results show, that the incidence of stenosis or occlusion of extracranial arteries is much higher in irradiated patients than in the normal population. The noninvasive CW-Dopplersonography should be routinely used in the follow-up of patients who had cervical irradiation in order to detect these carotid lesions while they are still symptomless.