Outcomes of carotid artery stenting in patients with radiation arteritis compared with those with atherosclerotic disease: Presented at the Carotid Scientific Session at the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery 48th Annual Symposium, Miami, Fla, March 13-17, 2021.

Abstract

Objective Head and neck malignancies are often treated with radiotherapy (RT). Nearly 80% of patients who have undergone RT will develop carotid radiation arteritis to some degree and 29% will develop stenosis >50%. Surgery in a radiated neck has higher rates of complications, and carotid artery stenting (CAS) has become the primary therapy. The outcomes for CAS in patients with radiation arteritis have not been rigorously evaluated. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the differences in perioperative outcomes, restenosis rates, the need for reintervention, and freedom from mortality between RT patients and patients with atherosclerotic disease who had undergone CAS.