Advances in the study of carotid injury after radiotherapy in head and neck tumors / 中国癌症杂志

ABSTRACT

Radiotherapy is the main treatment method for treating head and neck tumors. however, carotid injury after irradiation is a major concern which contributes to the quality of life in head and neck patients, especially in long term survivors. At present, duplex Doppler ultrasound is commonly used in detecting the change of carotid artery after irradiation in the clinic. Internal diameter and mean intima-media thickness(IMT) of carotid artery are predominant objects of observation. Precaution and management of carotid artery damage after irradiation have signifi cant clinical value to long term survivors. In this view, we summarized the advances in the study of carotid artery damage of head and neck tumors after irradiation.