[Radiation arteriopathies]

Abstract

Disease of the large arterial vessels is a relatively unknown complication of radiotherapy. However, it should be considered in the same manner as the other complications of irradiation when a tumour recurrence is suspected. The authors recall the experimental studies of Kirkpatrick and Konings, demonstrating the synergy between irradiation and hypercholesterolemia in the precocity and gravity of vascular complications. The different localisations reported in the literature are discussed: coronary, pulmonary, thoracic aorta, supra aortic, renal, digestive and ilio-femoral arteries. Finally, the authors underline the difficulty of diagnosis of post-radiotherapy without clinical, radiological or anatomopathological confirmation.