[Carotid artery stenting for radiation-induced carotid stenosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome and lesion characteristics in patients with radiation induced carotid stenoses (RI-CS) treated by carotid artery stenting (CAS), a total of five patients with RI-CS (six lesions) were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
Four lesions had their most stenotic site at the common carotid artery (CCA). All cases had contralateral carotid or vertebral artery stenosis (>50%). All patients had risk factors of atherosclerosis and all lesions contained unstable plaques at the stenotic site. A total of seven procedures were carried out and procedural success was obtained in all cases. Asymptomatic embolic infarctions associated with procedure were observed in four cases by diffusion-weighted MR imaging. In-stent thrombi were observed in two cases, one of which developed a neurological symptom three days after the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
CAS is a technically successful intervention for RI-CS. Care should be taken according to the characteristics of the plaque, which usually is vulnerable and long. Appropriate choice of a protection method could help in the reduction of unfavorable embolic complications and close postoperative follow up is mandatory.
Department of Neurosurgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Gifu University, Gifu-city, Gifu, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Egashira
Tetsu
T
Satow
Kosuke
K
Masuda
Masakazu
M
Okawa
Hiroyuki
H
Ohnishi
Takahito
T
Okazaki
Jun C
JC
Takahashi
Ken-Ichi
K
Murao
Koji
K
Iihara
Susumu
S
Miyamoto
D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy