Radiation-induced arterial disease of the lower limb

Radiation-Induced Vascular Disease-A State-of-the-Art Review

Since the 1990s, there has been a steady increase in the number of cancer survivors to an estimated 17 million in 2019 in the US alone. Radiation therapy today is applied to a variety of malignancies and over 50% of cancer patients. The effects of ionizing radiation on cardiac structure and function, so-called radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD), have been extensively studied. We review the available published data on the mechanisms and manifestations of RIHD, with a focus on vascular disease, as well as proposed strategies for its prevention, screening, diagnosis, and management.

Radiation-induced lower-limb arteriopathy: report of 4 cases and systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION

Radiation-induced arteriopathy (RIA) is a rare complication but may become more common due to the increased use of radiotherapy and the prolonged survival of patients. There is still a lack of evidence concerning treatment options. The aim of this study is to review reported cases of lower-limb RIA in order to provide guidelines for management.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We reported 4 cases treated for lower limb RIA and performed a systematic literature review without time limitation in the Medline database using the MeSh tems "iliac artery/radiation effects" OR "femoral artery/radiation effects." Main outcomes of interest were radiation dose, time before symptoms, symptoms, involved vessels, treatment and outcome.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twenty-five studies were included, reporting a total of 43 patients. Median time between irradiation and symptoms was 12 years (range: 9 days-49 years), with a median irradiation dose of 40Gy. Clinical presentation was claudication in 18 patients (52%), critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) in 4 patients (11%), acute limb ischemia (ALI) in 3 patients (9%) and hemorrhage in 6 patients (17%), the remaining 4 patients were asymptomatic (11%). Vessels involved were iliac arteries in 65% of the cases, femoropopliteal arteries in 28% of cases and concomitant supra and infrainguinal vessels in 7% of the cases. Claudication was mostly treated by open surgery (62%). Treatment of CLTI included primary amputation (50%), open surgery (25%) or endovascular surgery (25%). ALI was treated medically (33%), by open surgery (33%) or in situ thrombolysis (33%). Hemorrhagic cases or pulsatile masses were mostly treated by open surgery (66%). Follow-up was reported in 26 patients (67%), with mean follow-up of 12 months (range: 2 weeks - 5 years). During follow-up, 16% of these patients presented a recurrence of symptoms, and 8% required a reintervention.

CONCLUSIONS

There seems to be no evidence for open versus endovascular treatment, but close and long-term follow-up is needed in these patients due to the possible late presentation and recurrence of symptoms after treatment.

Strategies to Minimize Late Effects From Pelvic Radiotherapy

During the past 30 years, radiation treatment techniques have significantly improved, from conventional external-beam radiation therapy, to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, to current intensity-modulated radiation therapy, benefiting patients who undergo treatment of pelvic malignancies. Modern treatment options also include proton beam irradiation as well as low and high dose rate brachytherapy. Although the acute adverse effects of these modalities are well documented in clinical trials, less well known are the true incidence and optimal management of those late adverse effects that can occur months to years later. In a population of survivors of cancer that is steadily increasing, with many such patients receiving radiotherapy at some time during their disease course, these late effects can become a considerable management and quality-of-life issue. This review will examine the range of late toxicities that can occur from pelvic radiotherapy and explore strategies to prevent and mitigate them.

SCAI Expert consensus statement: Evaluation, management, and special considerations of cardio-oncology patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (endorsed by the cardiological society of india, and sociedad Latino Americana de Cardiologıa intervencionista)

In the United States alone, there are currently approximately 14.5 million cancer survivors, and this number is expected to increase to 20 million by 2020. Cancer therapies can cause significant injury to the vasculature, resulting in angina, acute coronary syndromes (ACS), stroke, critical limb ischemia, arrhythmias, and heart failure, independently from the direct myocardial or pericardial damage from the malignancy itself. Consequently, the need for invasive evaluation and management in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) for such patients has been increasing. In recognition of the need for a document on special considerations for cancer patients in the CCL, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) commissioned a consensus group to provide recommendations based on the published medical literature and on the expertise of operators with accumulated experience in the cardiac catheterization of cancer patients.

Long term morbidity of neoadjuvant chemoradiation for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To report the long term risks of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) after duodenopancreatectomy (DP) for adenocarcinoma of the head of pancreas.

METHODS

Between January 1996 and December 2002, 26 patients with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the head of pancreas were treated by this combination of therapies.

RESULTS

Two patients had delayed NCRT-related small bowel infarction: one died from superior mesenteric artery stenosis 36 months after DP without recurrence at laparotomy; there was one limited infarction 16 months after DP.

CONCLUSIONS

Long term vascular morbidity after NCRT is significant.

Synergism between radiotherapy and vascular risk factors in the accelerated development of atherosclerosis: a report of three cases

Radiotherapy is commonly used in the management of testicular tumors. However, to date the risk of radiation-induced vascular occlusive disease in men following radiotherapy for testicular cancer has not been regarded as a major factor in their long-term care. Several animal studies have shown the importance of established vascular risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced atherosclerosis. This report presents three cases of premature chronic iliofemoral arterial disease presenting 5,13, and 16 years following exposure to therapeutic irradiation for the treatment of testicular cancer. The patients were in the age group of 40-45 years and all demonstrated associated known atherosclerotic risk factors. The patients had received radiotherapy in the dose of 3,500-4,000 rads in a standard "dog-leg" fashion to the ipsilateral aortoiliac lymphatic chain. Our results showed that young men treated with radiotherapy for testicular cancer may be targeted from the outset for atherosclerotic risk factor reduction to minimize the risk of development of late chronic occlusive arterial disease. It may be that a cohort of men so treated with historical regimes of radiotherapy and now entering middle age should be screened for arterial disease and risk factor reduction.

Iliac atherosclerotic occlusive disease complicating radiation therapy for cervix cancer: a case series

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis and management of atherosclerotic occlusive disease complicating radiation therapy for squamous carcinoma of the cervix (SCC) are not well known.

CASES

A series of four patients who underwent medical or surgical treatment of radiation-induced artery disease were identified. Chronic right iliac artery occlusion was seen in one patient 7 years after external irradiation for SCC and was treated by a femorofemoral bypass. Acute arterial occlusion was seen in three patients. One patient developed right foot ischemia 2 years after external irradiation for SCC which was treated by a right axillofemoral bypass. One patient developed a left toe necrosis 2 years after external irradiation for a recurrence of SCC which was treated by a percutaneous artery dilatation. One patient developed, 3 years after external irradiation for SCC, a subacute ischemia of the left leg on the first postoperative day after a rectal resection. It was treated by vasodilators, calcium inhibitors, and anticoagulants.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of radiation-induced atherosclerotic occlusive disease complicating radiation therapy for SCC is easy but treatment is difficult. Long-term results of arterial dilatation are limited and extraanatomic bypass with allograft is the treatment of choice whenever feasible. However, because of poor long-term results, surgery should be attempted only in the case of severe ischemia.