Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy (RT) can damage neck vessels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). This study investigated the early effects of RT on carotid artery, including the internal media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques of the common carotid artery (CCA).
METHODS: This study included 69 patients with HNC who underwent RT at the First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2017 to September 2022, and 69 healthy participants as controls. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) of the carotid artery was used to measure the CCA IMT and plaques.
RESULTS: Left CCA IMT increased from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) before RT to 0.70 mm (0.60, 1.20) after RT (P < 0.0001). Right CCA IMT changed from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.71) before RT to 0.60 mm (0.60, 1.10) after RT (P = 0.0002). CCA IMT was 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) and 0.80 mm (0.60, 1.20) in the ≤40 Gy and >40 Gy groups (P = 0.0004). The CCA plaques number increased significantly after RT on both the left and right sides (Pleft < 0.0001; Pright <0.0001). The CCA plaques volume increased from 0 mm3 (0, 11.35) and 0 mm3 (0, 8.55) before RT to 8.8 mm3 (0, 21.5) and 5.8 mm3 (0, 16.1) on the left and right sides. Correlation analysis revealed a correlation between CCA IMT and age (r = 0.283, P = 0.001), smoking status (r = 0.179, P = 0.020), and radiation dose (r = 0.188, P = 0.028).
CONCLUSIONS: RT significantly increased CCA IMT, and the growth was related to the radiation dose. The number and volume of the CCA plaques also increased after RT.
METHODS: This study included 69 patients with HNC who underwent RT at the First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2017 to September 2022, and 69 healthy participants as controls. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) of the carotid artery was used to measure the CCA IMT and plaques.
RESULTS: Left CCA IMT increased from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) before RT to 0.70 mm (0.60, 1.20) after RT (P < 0.0001). Right CCA IMT changed from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.71) before RT to 0.60 mm (0.60, 1.10) after RT (P = 0.0002). CCA IMT was 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) and 0.80 mm (0.60, 1.20) in the ≤40 Gy and >40 Gy groups (P = 0.0004). The CCA plaques number increased significantly after RT on both the left and right sides (Pleft < 0.0001; Pright <0.0001). The CCA plaques volume increased from 0 mm3 (0, 11.35) and 0 mm3 (0, 8.55) before RT to 8.8 mm3 (0, 21.5) and 5.8 mm3 (0, 16.1) on the left and right sides. Correlation analysis revealed a correlation between CCA IMT and age (r = 0.283, P = 0.001), smoking status (r = 0.179, P = 0.020), and radiation dose (r = 0.188, P = 0.028).
CONCLUSIONS: RT significantly increased CCA IMT, and the growth was related to the radiation dose. The number and volume of the CCA plaques also increased after RT.
摘要：
目的：放疗（RT）可以损害头颈部肿瘤（HNC）患者的颈部血管。这项研究调查了RT对颈动脉的早期影响，包括颈总动脉（CCA）的内介质厚度（IMT）和颈动脉斑块。
方法：本研究包括2017年3月至2022年9月在吉林大学第一医院接受放疗的69例HNC患者，69例健康参与者作为对照。采用颈动脉彩色多普勒超声(CDUS)测量CCAIMT和斑块。
结果：左侧CCAIMT从RT前的0.60mm（0.60，0.70）增加到RT后的0.70mm（0.60，1.20）（P<0.0001）。右侧CCAIMT由RT前的0.60mm（0.60，0.71）变为RT后的0.60mm（0.60，1.10）（P=0.0002）。≤40Gy组和>40Gy组的CCAIMT分别为0.60mm(0.60,0.70)和0.80mm(0.60,1.20)(P=0.0004)。RT后，左侧和右侧的CCA斑块数量显着增加（Pleft<0.0001；Pright<0.0001）。CCA斑块体积从RT前的0mm3（0，11.35）和0mm3（0，8.55）增加到左右两侧的8.8mm3（0，21.5）和5.8mm3（0，16.1）。相关分析显示CCAIMT与年龄有相关性(r=0.283,P=0.001),吸烟状况（r=0.179，P=0.020），辐射剂量(r=0.188,P=0.028)。
结论：RT显著增加CCAIMT，生长与辐射剂量有关。在RT后,CCA斑块的数量和体积也增加。
方法：本研究包括2017年3月至2022年9月在吉林大学第一医院接受放疗的69例HNC患者，69例健康参与者作为对照。采用颈动脉彩色多普勒超声(CDUS)测量CCAIMT和斑块。
结果：左侧CCAIMT从RT前的0.60mm（0.60，0.70）增加到RT后的0.70mm（0.60，1.20）（P<0.0001）。右侧CCAIMT由RT前的0.60mm（0.60，0.71）变为RT后的0.60mm（0.60，1.10）（P=0.0002）。≤40Gy组和>40Gy组的CCAIMT分别为0.60mm(0.60,0.70)和0.80mm(0.60,1.20)(P=0.0004)。RT后，左侧和右侧的CCA斑块数量显着增加（Pleft<0.0001；Pright<0.0001）。CCA斑块体积从RT前的0mm3（0，11.35）和0mm3（0，8.55）增加到左右两侧的8.8mm3（0，21.5）和5.8mm3（0，16.1）。相关分析显示CCAIMT与年龄有相关性(r=0.283,P=0.001),吸烟状况（r=0.179，P=0.020），辐射剂量(r=0.188,P=0.028)。
结论：RT显著增加CCAIMT，生长与辐射剂量有关。在RT后,CCA斑块的数量和体积也增加。
