Carotid blowout syndrome after nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy: successful treatment by internal carotid artery occlusion after stent implantation failure

Surgical treatment of carotid blowout syndrome after radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors: a single-center experience

To explore the treatments for and manifestations of carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) and to further explore the critical role of high-flow bypass combined with parent artery isolation. The clinical data of nine patients with radiotherapy-related CBS who were admitted to our hospital from March 2020 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Relevant literature was reviewed. From March 2020 to March 2023, nine CBS patients were admitted to Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, including eight males and one female. Digital subtraction angiography was performed for all the patients; all the pseudoaneurysms were located at the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery. A balloon occlusion test was performed on four patients, which was tolerated by all patients. CT and MRI scans showed seven cases of osteonecrosis combined with infection and two cases of tumor recurrence. Emergency permanent parent artery occlusion was performed on six patients, aneurysm embolization was completed in one case, covered stent implantation was performed in one patient, and three cases were treated by cerebral bypass surgery (including two patients with failed interventional treatment). Rebleeding was found in two patients, and no rebleeding was found in the bypass group. Paralysis was found in three patients, and asymptomatic cerebral infarction without permanent neurologic impairment was found in three patients. Two patients died due to tumor progression. Emergency occlusion surgery is lifesaving in the acute phase of CBS. Endovascular therapy cannot prevent the progression of pseudoaneurysms or lower the recurrence rate of bleeding events. High-flow bypass combined with parent artery isolation is a safe and effective method that may facilitate further surgical treatment. Further research is warranted.

A Clinical Series in Patients with Naso-Pharyngeal Cancer and Their Outcomes with Stent Graft Treatment for Sentinel Bleeding to Prevent Frank Carotid Rupture

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of heparin-bonded VIABAHN stent graft for carotid rupture in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

A total of 1,596 patients with NPC were enrolled. Fifteen patients (8 male and 7 female), who developed carotid artery rupture (CAR) after radiotherapy between January 2016 and June 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Complications and mortality were assessed at 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The incidence of carotid burst syndrome in the NPC cohort was 0.94%. The distribution of site of arterial rupture was as follows: common carotid artery (4 cases), C1 segment of internal carotid artery (8 cases), and C2 segment of internal carotid artery (3 cases). All patients successfully underwent emergency deployment of the heparin-bonded VIABAHN to seal off the ruptured carotid artery. The survival rate as of 12-month follow-up was 80.0%. Three patients died of short-term rebleeding, lung infection, and tumor progression. No stent-related complications occurred in our cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Heparin-bonded VIABAHN-covered stents may be a safe and effective treatment option for carotid rupture in patients with NPC.

Retrospective analysis of massive epistaxis and pseudoaneurysms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

Epistaxis after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common clinical critical illness, which often leads to death of patients. This article focuses on the relationship between massive epistaxis and pseudoaneurysm after radiotherapy in patients with NPC and discusses clinically relevant treatment strategies.

METHODS

A review was performed in 21 patients with massive epistaxis after radiotherapy for NPC from January 2011 to December 2019, and all of the patients were examined by computed tomography angiography (CTA). We also reviewed the English literature over the past 10 years to analyze the characteristics and related causes of pseudoaneurysms in terms of the clinical stage of NPC, course of radiotherapy, and affected artery. An analysis was performed on the methods of endovascular interventional treatment of such pseudoaneurysms.

RESULTS

Among the 21 patients, 19 cases had bone destruction of the skull base; 13 cases were also found to have tumor recurrence; 15 cases were in stage III or IV of NPC; pseudoaneurysms were observed in 14 cases, of which nine cases had pseudoaneurysms in the internal carotid artery (ICA), and the rest had pseudoaneurysms in the external carotid artery (ECA). These data were consistent with the results of the literature review. Analysis with imaging revealed that the petrous ICA was the common predilection site. There were 11 out of 14 cases of pseudoaneurysms with sentinel hemorrhage in the initial phase. All 14 pseudoaneurysm patients underwent endovascular interventional therapy, but one died from hemorrhagic shock during the procedure. No rebleeding was observed among the other patients during 72 h after intravascular treatment. Nevertheless, regrettably two patients died on the 10th and 17th days after intervention.

CONCLUSION

Pseudoaneurysm, which was a serious complication after radiotherapy in patients with NPC, could cause massive epistaxis with high mortality. The formation of a pseudoaneurysm was closely associated with a high carcinoma stage, re-radiotherapy, and local bone destruction and infection. Most cases had sentinel epistaxis, which was considered the bleeding characteristic. The imaging material prompted that pseudoaneurysm had a predisposition to the petrous part of the ICA, while the preferred therapy was endovascular embolization treatment.

Endovascular Treatment of Epistaxis

Epistaxis is not uncommon, with up to 60% of the population suffering from at least one episode in their lifetime and as many as 6% presenting for medical attention. An analysis of emergency room (ER) visits in the United States between 2009 and 2011 identified 1.2 million encounters for epistaxis, accounting for 0.32% of ER visits. Approximately 6% of patients will require more aggressive, invasive management in the form of transnasal ligation of the sphenopalatine artery or endovascular embolization. This article reviews the epidemiology, rationale for endovascular treatment, strategy for treatment, endovascular technique, postprocedural follow-up, and complications and their management.

Fighter Pilots With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Successfully Returning to Flight After Radiotherapy: A Case Series

For nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), radiotherapy is the primary treatment. However, complications occur after radiation to the nasopharynx, which could potentially affect the flying safety. Four fighter pilots with NPC were reported. With early to locally advanced NPC, they received radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy. The prescribed radiation dose was 70 Gy to the primary tumor over the nasopharynx. Before treatment, all patients presented with various degrees of hearing loss on pure tone audiometry (main frequencies of 20-45 dB at 3-4.5 kHz for affected ears). After the full course of radiotherapy, tumor regression was noticed during months to years of follow-ups. The follow-up audiometry evaluation showed gradually recovered hearing function (average improvement of 5 dB at pretreatment frequencies) in all pilots. They then returned back to the flight line on annual waiver points. Here, we conclude that fighter pilots with NPC could successfully return to the flight line after radiotherapy. However, detailed physical examinations and confirmation of adaptation to flying condition are warranted.

Outcome of carotid and subclavian blowout syndrome in patients with pharynx- and larynx carcinoma passing a standardized multidisciplinary treatment

BACKGROUND

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is one of the most feared emergencies in the head and neck surgery and tends to occur in patients with head and neck cancer, wound complications, pharyngocutaneous fistulas, or after radio(chemo)therapy. CBS is always life threatening and associated with a 50% mortality/morbidity rate.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2015, a total of 51 patients who developed CBS caused by the tumour masses or after radio(chemo)therapy were included. All patients underwent a standardised bleeding management.

RESULTS

In 86% of patients, CBS was associated with manifest carcinoma. Fifty three percent of patients were treated by transcervical surgery, in 36% of these cases surgery was supplemented by endovascular approaches. Severe complications such as re-bleeding or cerebral ischemia occurred infrequently. Seven patients died because of the acute bleeding.

CONCLUSION

CBS associated with head and neck cancer carries poor mid and long-term prognoses. An interdisciplinary standardised treatment path dramatically reduced overall morbidity and mortality.