Key result
Neck irradiation and neck dissection in head and neck cancer patients were associated with significantly increased arterial stiffness compared to healthy controls (p<0.001).
Why the study?
This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of neck irradiation and neck dissection on arterial stiffness in head and neck cancer patients using speckle tracking carotid strain ultrasonography compared with healthy controls.
Do neck irradiation and neck dissection increase arterial stiffness measured by speckle tracking carotid strain ultrasonography in patients with head and neck cancer?
Observational (n=101)
Do neck irradiation and neck dissection increase arterial stiffness measured by speckle tracking carotid strain ultrasonography in patients with head and neck cancer?
p-value: p=<0.001
Neck irradiation and neck dissection for head and neck cancer are associated with increased arterial stiffness, demonstrating the potential of speckle tracking carotid strain ultrasonography for cardiovascular risk assessment in these patients.
STCS-US may identify post-treatment arterial stiffness increases in head and neck cancer survivors; hypothesis-generating for cardiovascular risk assessment.
This study assessed arterial stiffness in head and neck cancer patients using speckle tracking carotid strain ultrasonography (STCS-US). It investigated the impacts of neck irradiation and neck dissection on the arterial stiffness of these patients by comparing their stiffness parameters with those of healthy controls. A total of 101 participants (67 patients and 34 healthy controls) were enrolled in this study. Fifty-two patients received definitive radiation therapy (TD: 60–72 Gy in 30 days) at least two years ago. Participants were grouped into four according to their states of neck irradiation (IR) and neck dissection (ND): Group (IR+/ND−) had 28 patients, Group (IR+/ND+) had 24 patients, Group (IR−/ND+) had 15 patients, and Group (IR−/ND−) had 34 healthy controls. All the participants underwent STCS-US. Arterial stiffness parameters relating to arterial compliance (AC) and elastic modulus (EM) were significantly changed in Group (IR+/ND−) and Group (IR+/ND+) in the transverse plane (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and in the longitudinal plane (p < 0.001, p < 0.001); the change in β-stiffness index (β-SI) was more significant in the transverse plane (p = 0.002). Group (IR+/ND+) had significant transverse circumferential (p = 0.001) and radial strain parameters (p = 0.001). The carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) significantly changed in Group (IR+/ND+) compared to controls (p = 0.001). Our findings indicate that neck irradiation and neck dissection increase arterial stiffness as single treatments; however, double treatment is associated with a higher increase. Neck irradiation affects strain parameters more than neck dissection alone. The study demonstrated the feasibility and clinical value of the STCS method in assessing arterial stiffness and its potential use in cardiovascular risk assessment for patients with head and neck cancer.
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Eryılmaz et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Head and neck cancer (n=101). Neck irradiation and neck dissection vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Arterial stiffness parameters (arterial compliance and elastic modulus) (p=<0.001). Neck irradiation and neck dissection in head and neck cancer patients were associated with significantly increased arterial stiffness compared to healthy controls (p<0.001).
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