Radiation injury of the axillary artery
Radiation therapy is widely used in the treatment of neoplastic disease, and its beneficial effects have justified its continued use in spite of recognized complications. Both the benefits and the complications of radiotherapy are related to its effects on arterioles and capillaries. The larger muscular arteries are less sensitive to irradiation but are not exempt from radiation injury. This paper reports the management of a patient with axillary artery occlusion as a result of radiotherapy following radical mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast. This patient represents the fourth case of axillary artery injury caused by radiotherapy following surgery for carcinoma of the breast and the second case in which reconstructive arterial surgery has been used. The radiation-induced pathologic changes responsible for arterial occlusion are slowly progressive over many years. Patients with carcinoma of the breast who have received radiotherapy to the axilla are at risk for the insidious development of this problem which warrants consideration in long term follow-up.
- OSTI ID:
- 7322838
- Journal Information:
- Mo. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Mo. Med.; (United States) Vol. 73:2; ISSN MIMIA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARTERIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
GLANDS
MAMMARY GLANDS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY