Ultrasonography.  2018 Jan;37(1):43-49. 10.14366/usg.17016.

Hemodynamic analysis of radiation-induced damage in common carotid arteries by using color Doppler ultrasonography

• Mohammadkarim A
• Mokhtari-Dizaji M
• Kazemian A
• Saberi H

• KMID: 2401144
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.17016

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to assess vascular changes and blood flow abnormalities in the common carotid arteries of patients with head and neck cancers after external radiotherapy, using color Doppler ultrasonography.
METHODS
We studied 24 patients treated with external radiotherapy for various head and neck cancers. In order to study the acute effects of irradiation on common carotid blood flow and arterial diameter changes, color Doppler ultrasonography parameters such as peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, systolic-to-diastolic velocity (S/D) ratio, pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), and instantaneous diameter changes were evaluated before and after external radiotherapy. Additionally, the blood volume flow (VF) values in the peak systolic and end diastolic phases, as well as mean velocity, were evaluated throughout three cardiac cycles using B-mode ultrasonic image processing.
RESULTS
The findings showed significant changes in the S/D ratio, PI, and RI of the common carotid arteries before and after external radiotherapy (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant decrease in artery diameter and blood VF was observed after radiotherapy relative to the pretreatment values. A significant correlation was found between the blood VF values estimated using ultrasonic measurements and mathematical methods throughout three cardiac cycles.
CONCLUSION
The hemodynamic parameters of the common carotid arteries changed during radiotherapy. These arterial changes may lead to late adverse effects of radiotherapy, such as ischemic strokes and ischemic attacks.

Keyword

Ultrasonography; Carotid artery, common; Radiotherapy; Blood flow volume

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Blood Volume
Carotid Artery, Common*
Head
Hemodynamics*
Humans
Neck
Radiotherapy
Stroke
Ultrasonics
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color*