International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 112-117
Radiotherapy and Stroke

Mert SAYNAK1, Vuslat Y. ÇALOĞLU1, Ruşen C. ALAS1, Murat ÇALOĞLU1, Cem UZAL1

Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyasyon Onkolojisi ABD, EDİRNE

Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Radiotherapy after-complications, Carotid stenosis, Cerebrovascular disorders, Stroke
Cerebrovascular disease is common in cancer patients. Treatment of cancer including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy may also increase the risk of stroke. The consequences of radiation induced carotid injury can be severe and lifethreatening and have significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Radiationinduced vascular disease is believed to be a result of premature atherosclerotic changes in the arterial wall, including endothelial cell damage, subintimal fibrosis and hypertrophy, thinning and fragmentation of the elastic membrane, and thickening and fibrosis of the muscularis. The results of recent studies showed that in patients with breast cancer supraclavicular radiotherapy wasn’t associated with elevated risk of ischemic stroke with modern radiotherapy techniques. The long-term sequelae of radiation exposure of the carotid arteries may take years to manifest clinically. Hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and obesity are known to exacerbate the severity of carotid radiation injury. Effective management of these modifiable factors can halt or slow the development of carotid stenosis. Therapeutic options consist of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, carotid endarteriectomy, and bypass surgery.