Irradiation-induced changes in the subclavian and axillary arteries after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast.
Three case reports are reviewed to illustrate the possibility of treating irradiation-induced lesions of the subclavian-brachial vascular segment (aneurysm and segmental occlusions) 14, 20, and 26 years after radical mastectomy and subsequent radiotherapy. All patients had an extraanatomic vein bypass graft from the carotid to the brachial artery crossing the shoulder near the acromioclavicular joint, with the advantage that the tissue changed by radiotherapy or infected by ulceration could be circumvented. There were no postoperative complications, with adequate function of the grafts (follow-up, 17, 24, and 20 months, respectively).
D000368:Aged; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*