| Autor: |
Depboylu B; Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Eryilmaz A; Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Basak HS; Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Kirbac V; Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Basal Y; Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Omurlu IK; Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye., Gok M; Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye.; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. |
| Abstrakt: |
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. |
