Radiation‐associated carotid artery atherosclerosis: case report and review of contemporaneous literature

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is a component of the treatment of patients with head and neck malignancies. This therapy may damage the nearby carotid arteries, thereby initiating or accelerating the atherosclerotic process (atheroma formation). Dentists treating patients who have been irradiated should examine the patient's panoramic radiograph for evidence of atheroma-like calcifications, which appear 1.5 to 2.5 cm posterior and inferior to the angle of the mandible. Patients with evidence of such lesions should be referred to their primary care physician with the suggestion that an ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries is indicated.

Incidental findings of carotid artery stenosis detected by calcifications on panoramic radiographs: report of three cases

“…The bifurcation area of the common carotid artery and the proximal 1.5 cm of the ICA are reported to be the most common anatomic locations of spontaneous atherosclerosis [11][12][13]. The formation of CACs is generally detected in the region of the carotid bifurcation on PRs [14,15].…”

Patterns and Prevalence of Post-Radiation Changes in Head & Neck Cancer Detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT

“…and turn the neck. This diagnosis was limited to patients who had not undergone previous neck surgery [35] . In our study there was only one case with shoulder drop due to radiation induced accessory nerve palsy represent 3% of all cases.…”

La Radiografía Panorámica en La Detección Temprana De Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Asintomáticas: Revisión De La Literatura

“…38 reportaron un caso de ACAC inducida post tratamiento de radiación por un carcinoma de células escamosas. Los investigadores proponen que la radioterapia acelera la enfermedad ateroesclerótica presente.…”