Irradiation injury to large arteries

Four cases of irradiation injury to large arteries are presented and the literature is reviewed. Three patterns of injury have emerged. 1. Intimal damage resulting in mural thrombosis presenting within 5 years of irradiation. 2. Fibrotic occlusion presenting within 10 years of injury. 3. A predisposition to the development of atheroma together with periarterial fibrosis associated with a latent interval of 20 or more years. The treatment of choice is a bypass procedure of the arterial lesion.