Head and neck radiotherapy-induced carotid toxicity: Pathophysiological concepts and clinical syndromes.

This review aims at offering a concise cross-section of head and neck radiotherapy-induced carotid toxicity for pathological concepts to emerge and become part of clinical routine. Radiation-induced carotid toxicities such as atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness and arterioradionecrosis result from radiation dose limitation. Atherosclerosis is related to lesions in the epithelial wall.