Surgical treatment of radiation induced atherosclerotic disease of the iliac and femoral arteries.

Ten patients with radiation induced atherosclerosis of the iliac and femoral arteries are described. Therapeutic irradiation in normal doses can induce and aggravate atherosclerosis of large arteries. The lesions are sharply defined within the field of radiation. Irradiation influences the permeability and cellular processes of the vessel wall which leads to development of the atheromatous plaque. Vascular surgery is possible with no mortality and with low morbidity. Because of peri-arterial involvement of tissues and commonly poor skin condition extra-anatomical bypass should be preferred as a primary procedure.