Radiation-induced occlusion of the artery in the distal lower extremity--a case report

In a 54 year-old man, a symptomatic occlusion of the popliteal artery and its trifurcation occurred following radiotherapy. Three years following curative radiotherapy to the upper tibia for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, he began experiencing intermittent claudication of the calf, which suddenly progressed to severe rest pain and coldness of the foot, and eventually to ischemic ulcer. Angiogram revealed an atherosclerotic occlusion well localized within the field of the previous irradiation. The significance of this rare entity is discussed from various aspects.