Clinical outcomes of radiation-induced carotid stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Carotid Artery Stenosis and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy: A Critical Review

The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiation therapy (RT) to guide assessment, screening, and management strategies. Patients treated with RT for HNC are at an elevated risk of developing CAS, with published meta-analyses demonstrating that CAS >50% occurs in approximately 25% of patients. Previous research suggests a 10-year cumulative incidence of stroke between 5.7% and 12.5%. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools such as Qstroke, QRISK-2, and Framingham risk score perform poorly for predicting IS for patients with HNC who received RT. Duplex ultrasound is the most common imaging modality to assess CAS, but controversy remains as to the utility of screening asymptomatic individuals. Only 3 of the 5 major HNC survivorship guidelines acknowledge RT as a risk factor for CAS or IS, while only 1 makes a specific recommendation on screening for CAS (American Head and Neck Society). Within the general population, only 1 CVD guideline discusses RT as a risk factor for CAS (Society for Vascular Surgery). Clinicians involved in the care of patients with HNC treated with RT should be aware of the increased risk of CAS and IS and the challenges in risk prediction. Although there is a lack of evidence to make firm recommendations, HNC survivorship recommendations should ensure HNC survivors and primary care providers are informed of these risks and the importance of assessment and management of CVD risk factors. Future studies are required to refine risk prediction models in patients with HNC and to determine those most likely to benefit from targeted screening and initiation of early preventative strategies.

Impact of head and neck radiation on long-term outcomes after carotid revascularization

OBJECTIVE

Radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis (RICS) is a well-described phenomenon seen after head and neck cancer radiation. Previously published literature suggests that, compared with atherosclerotic disease, RICS may result in worse long-term outcomes and early restenosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of radiation on long-term outcomes after various carotid revascularization techniques using a multi-center registry database.

METHODS

Patients in the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry for carotid artery intervention (carotid endarterectomy [CEA]; transfemoral carotid artery stenting [CAS]; transcarotid artery revascularization [TCAR]), who are 65 years or older were included in the study. VQI Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION) Medicare-linked database was used to obtain long-term procedure-specific outcomes. Primary endpoints were 3-year death, stroke, and reintervention. We performed propensity matching between patients with prior radiation and those without. Kaplan-Meier analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to analyze the outcome variables.

RESULTS

A total of 56,472 patients had undergone carotid revascularization (CEA, n = 48,307; TCAR, n = 4593; CAS, n = 3572), 1244 patients with prior radiation and 54,925 patients without prior radiation. The prior radiation group was more likely to be male (71.9% vs 60.3%; P < .01), to receive a stent (47.5% vs 13.5%; P < .01), and to be on P2Y12 inhibitor (55.2% vs 38.3%; P < .01). Propensity matching was performed on 1223 patients (CEA, n = 655; TCAR, n = 292; CAS, n = 287). There were no significant differences in 30-day outcomes for death, stroke, or major adverse cardiovascular events for all three procedures. The prior radiation group had higher rates of cranial nerve injury (3.7% vs 1.8%; P = .04) and 90-day readmission (23.5% vs 18.3%; P = .01) after CEA. For long-term outcomes, prior radiation significantly increased mortality risk for CEA and CAS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-2.27 and HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.02-2.36, respectively). The 3-year risk of stroke for CEA in radiated patients was also significantly higher (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.03-2.09) compared with non-radiated patients. Prior radiation did not significantly affect death and stroke in patients undergoing TCAR. Prior radiation also did not impact the rates of short and long-term reintervention after CEA, CAS, or TCAR.

CONCLUSIONS

Prior head and neck radiation significantly increases the risk for mortality and stroke for CEA and the risk for mortality after CAS. Long-term outcomes for TCAR are not significantly affected by prior radiation. TCAR may be the preferred treatment modality for patients with radiation-induced carotid stenosis.

Carotid artery replacement with superficial femoral artery in a patient with recurrent radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis

A 58-year-old man presented with a right hemispheric transient ischemic attack from recurrent common carotid artery (CCA) in-stent restenosis. He had undergone prior neck radiation for carcinoma of the right tonsil and subsequent right carotid endarterectomy (10 years prior) and right CCA stenting (5 years prior), all for symptomatic radiation-induced stenosis. We performed CCA reconstruction using a transposed superficial femoral artery and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap coverage. Early stenosis of the proximal graft required angioplasty and stent grafting. However, at 1.5 years postoperatively, he has no further issues and a patent graft. This case highlights the options available for complex radiation-induced lesions of the carotid vessels.

Immunotherapy-Associated Atherosclerosis: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Findings and Implications for Future Research

Purpose of the Review

Even as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the lifespan of many patients, they may also trigger acceleration of long-term cardiovascular disease. Our review aims to examine the current landscape of research on ICI-mediated atherosclerosis and address key questions regarding its pathogenesis and impact on patient management.

Recent Findings

Preclinical mouse models suggest that T cell dysregulation and proatherogenic cytokine production are key contributors to plaque development after checkpoint inhibition. Clinical data also highlight the significant burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients on immunotherapy, although the value of proactively preventing and treating ASCVD in this population remains an open area of inquiry. Current treatment options include dietary/lifestyle modification and traditional medications to manage hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes risk factors; no current targeted therapies exist.

Summary

Early identification of high-risk patients is crucial for effective preventive strategies and timely intervention. Future research should focus on refining screening tools, elucidating targetable mechanisms driving ICI atherosclerosis, and evaluating long-term cardiovascular outcomes in cancer survivors who received immunotherapy. Moreover, close collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists is essential to optimize patient outcomes.

The Prediction of Cardiac Events Using Contemporary Risk Prediction Models after Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) models in predicting ASCVD events among patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNCA). From a large cohort of HNCA patients treated with RT, ASCVD events were adjudicated. Observed vs. predicted ASCVD events were compared. We compared rates by statin eligibility status. Regression models and survival analysis were used to identify the relationship between predicted risk and post-RT outcomes. Among the 723 identified patients, 274 (38%) were statin-eligible based on USPSTF criteria, 359 (49%) based on PCE, and 234 (32%) based on FRS. During follow-up, 17% developed an ASCVD, with an event rate of 27 per 1000 person-years, 68% higher than predicted (RR 1.68 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.12), p < 0.001). In multivariable regression, there was no difference in event rates by statin eligibility status (p > 0.05). Post-RT, the observed event rate was higher than the predicted ASCVD risk across all grades of predicted risk (p < 0.05) and the observed risk of an ASCVD event was high even among patients predicted to have a low risk of ASCVD. In conclusion, current ASCVD risk calculators significantly underestimate the risk for ASCVD among patients receiving RT for HNCA.

Distinct lipid profiles of radiation-induced carotid plaques from atherosclerotic carotid plaques revealed by UPLC-QTOF-MS and DESI-MSI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiotherapy is a standard treatment for head and neck tumors that significantly increases patients' long-term survival rates. However, late cerebrovascular complications, especially carotid artery stenosis (CAS), have gained increasing attention. Investigation of biomarkers of radiation-induced CAS may help to elucidate the mechanism by which radiation induces damage to blood vessels and identify possible preventive measures against such damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we used lipidomics strategy to characterize the lipids present in 8 radiation-induced carotid plaques (RICPs) and 12 atherosclerotic carotid plaques (ASCPs). We also used desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) to map the spatial distribution of the screened lipids from 2 RICPs samples and 2 ASCPs samples.

RESULTS

The results showed that 31 metabolites in RICPs were significantly higher than that in ASCPs, 24 of which were triglycerides (TGs). We used four machine learning models to select potential indicators from the 31 metabolites. Six TGs [TG(17:2/17:2/18:0), TG(17:1/17:2/18:0), TG(17:0/17:2/18:0), TG(17:2/17:2/20:0), TG(17:1/17:2/20:0), TG(15:0/22:0/22:2)] were found to be the potential markers for distinguishing RICPs and ASCPs (AUC = 0.83). The DESI-MSI results suggested that the 6 TGs were localized in the collagen fiber regions and confirmed the differences of these TGs between the two kinds of plaques.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6 TGs primarily localized in the collagen fiber regions of plaques are likely to be potential indicators for the differentiation of RICPs from ASCPs which may have implications in the mechanisms and possible preventive measures against RICPs.

Safety and efficacy of transcarotid artery revascularisation versus carotid endarterectomy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis study

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the transcarotid artery revascularisation (TCAR) with flow reversal technique has been developed to treat carotid artery stenosis. The superiority of TCAR over transfemoral carotid artery stenting has been demonstrated. However, the safety and efficacy of TCAR and carotid endarterectomy remain unclear. This study aims to introduce a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the morbidity and mortality rates between TCAR and carotid endarterectomy in the treatment of atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol was drafted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols statement. Herein, major databases will be searched, including Medline, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library, and randomised controlled trials and high-quality observational studies will be included. We will screen all studies published from January 2000 to March 2021. Bias risk will be evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria or Methodological Index for Non-randomised Studies criteria, depending on the study type. Two reviewers will select eligible studies and extract the data independently. The primary outcome will include stroke or death during the perioperative period and follow-up. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be performed to explore any potential sources of heterogeneity. Specific results will be described in a narrative form when available eligible studies are insufficient for meta-analysis. Publication bias will be assessed using a funnel plot.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study will summarise and analyse the existing literature; hence, ethics approval will not be required. The final results may be published at a relevant academic conference or in a journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020178691.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Nonagenarians: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the current literature on mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in nonagenarians and to provide updated clinical evidence of its feasibility, effectiveness, and safety in nonagenarians. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials and observational studies that reported the clinical outcomes of nonagenarians with acute ischemic stroke after undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Risk of bias was assessed using different scales. I² statistic was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the results, while meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the source of heterogeneity. Thirteen studies and 657 patients were included. The estimated rate of successful revascularization was 80.82% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.48-83.97%), and the rate of favorable outcome (modified Rankin score [mRS] 0-2) was 21.60% (95% CI: 13.81-30.41%). The rate of good outcome (mRS score 0-3) was 23.08% (95% CI: 18.88-27.55%). The estimated risk of death during hospitalization was 20.55% (95% CI: 15.93-25.55%), while the mortality rate at 3 months was 44.38% (95% CI: 33.66-55.36%). The rate of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) occurrence was 12.84% (95% CI: 5.27-22.68%), while the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was 3.52% (95% CI: 1.67-5.85%). The rate of hospital-related complications was 26.93% (95% CI: 10.53-47.03%). MT in nonagenarians demonstrated a high rate of successful revascularization. Conversely, the rate of futile revascularization is high with a low functional independence proportion. Therefore, MT should not be indiscriminately advocated in nonagenarians. Satisfactory results require careful selection of patients. Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify the selection algorithm.