Outcomes of carotid stenting in patients with previous neck radiation.

Objectives: Our aim was to report outcomes of percutaneous stenting of carotid stenosis in patients with previous neck radiation.

Background: Post-irradiation carotid disease is often extensive and involves atypical areas. Data regarding outcomes of stenting of these lesions are scarce.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records at our institution from January 1998 through May 2010 to determine baseline characteristics, procedural details, and follow-up data of patients who underwent stenting of radiation-associated carotid stenosis.

Results: Our study included 70 patients who underwent a total of 83 procedures. Of these, 47 patients were male (67%), mean age was 66.3 ± 10.6 years. Mean follow-up was 47.5 months (range from 1 to 155 months). All patients had a history of radiotherapy to the neck area, with laryngeal cancer being the most common reason. Furthermore, 41 patients (58.5%) had previous neck surgery due to malignancies. An embolic protection device was used in 61 (73%) procedures. During the follow-up, 5 (6%) ipsilateral events among a total of 10 (12.0%) ischemic events were observed. There was 1 intraprocedural stroke (1.2%), but there were no other ischemic event at 30 days and 1-year post procedure. Mortality was 4.8% during the first 30 days, 8.6% during the first year and 60% at the end of the study. Restenosis was seen in 2 (2.4%) patients at 1 year and in total nine patients (10.8 %) with long-term follow-up.

Conclusions: Carotid stenting is a safe and durable treatment option for patients with severe carotid stenosis and neck radiation.