Background: Follow-up studies find an increase in stroke and carotid artery disease incidence in adult cancer patients treated with neck irradiation. These radiation-related late effects are now being detected in young adult survivors of childhood cancer.
Observations: This report includes 5 pediatric cancer survivors, ages 23 to 40, who presented with advanced carotid artery stenosis 17 to 36 years after receiving neck irradiation. Radiation doses ranged from 3900 to 7350 cGy. Three of the 5 experienced a stroke.
Conclusions: Prevalence and risk factors associated with premature carotid artery disease after neck irradiation need to be investigated in childhood cancer survivors.