Ultrasound Evaluation of Carotid Arteries in Patients Post Radiotherapy

METHOD:

A cross sectional study comparing the intima-medial thickness of common carotid artery of forty subjects who received radiotherapy for head and neck cancer with forty matched healthy subjects who no history of irradiation to head and neck and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study .Data obtained was statistically analysed on SPSS 10.0.

RESULTS:

Intima-medial thickness(IMT) was found to be significantly higher(p value< 0.0001) in post radiotherapy patients compared to healthy subjects with a short follow up interval (mean duration 1year 2months)

There is no significant difference (p value 0.95)in the IMT between cases treated with combined chemo-radiotherapy and cases treated with radiotherapy alone.

CONCLUSION:

Patients who have had radiotherapy for treatment of head and neck malignancy are at increased risk of accelerated atherosclerosis in common carotid artery which inturn can lead to cereovascular accidents. Common carotid IMT was increased after radiotherapy to the head and neck in subjects with no other major risk factors for atherosclerosis. As changes in carotid IMT are the earliest indicators of atherosclerosis, routine ultrasound of the carotid arteries is advisable for patients who have received radiotherapy to the head and neck