title: Intimal-medial thickness and carotid arteries lumen in irradiated patients for head and neck cancer: preliminary data of an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) the intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and the lumen of the carotid artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with HNC and an indication for EBRT were enrolled. A carotid artery color Doppler examination was performed before and 6 and 12 months after EBRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2008 to 2011, 50 patients were enrolled. The mean carotid IMT was 0.9 vs. 1.02 mm before and 6 months after EBRT, respectively (p = 0.0001). The common carotid artery lumen was narrowed without statistical significance, 6 months after EBRT (p = 0.3). 1 year from EBRT, the IMT increase and the lumen reduction were statistically significant (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively). Neurological events (stroke or TIA) were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed a significant IMT increase 6 months from EBRT without a corresponding narrowing of the common carotid lumen while a significant increase 12 months after EBRT.
authors: Cardiology Service, IRCCS/CROB, Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Faruolo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fiorentino
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gallucci
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Lapadula
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Fusco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color