Angioplasty for symptomatic radiation-induced extracranial carotid artery stenosis: case report

A patient with cervical lymphoma received chemotherapy and radiation to the neck. He later presented with crescendo transient ischemic attacks. Angiography demonstrated bilateral cervical carotid stenosis, which was presumed to be the result of previous radiation therapy. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with balloon dilation of the symptomatic lesion resulted in an immediate cessation of the patient's transient ischemic attacks. Nine months later, he developed a symptomatic cervical carotid stenosis of the contralateral carotid artery, which also was treated successfully with angioplasty, resulting in a good clinical outcome. The patient has experienced no further ischemic events in the 2 years after treatment.